LEADER OF THE HOUSE

Departments: Work Permits

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Leader of the House how many work permits were applied for by his Department in each of the last five years.

Jack Straw: None.

House of Lords: Reform

John Redwood: To ask the Leader of the House what options he has considered for the determination of salaries to elected numbers of a reformed House of Lords.

Jack Straw: Paragraph 9.11 of the White Paper said that the recommendations 119-124 and recommendation 126 of the Wakeham Royal Commission would be likely to be "guiding principles" for any changes to the remuneration of Members of the Lords.
	Paragraph 10.35 of the White Paper explains that once there are firmer decisions on composition on whether Members of a reformed House should be salaried or receive expenses, the Government will discuss proposals with the other parties and then seek the advice of the Senior Salaries Review Body. Following the votes in the House of Lords on 14 March 2007 on composition of a reformed House, I propose to reconvene the cross-party group, which I chair, to assess the outcome of the debates in both Houses.

Legislation: Reviews

Norman Baker: To ask the Leader of the House 
	(1)  if he will make it Government policy for the proposed departmental reviews of legislation to be published;
	(2)  if he will bring forward proposals to establish a new Parliamentary Joint Committee on post-legislative scrutiny;
	(3)  when he expects to publish the Government's response to the Law Commission's report on post-legislative scrutiny.

Jack Straw: Recommendations for the establishment of a joint committee on post-legislative scrutiny, and for greater commitment from Government Departments to post-enactment reviews of legislation, are contained in the Law Commission report on Post-legislative Scrutiny (Cm 6945). These and the other recommendations in the report are under active consideration by the Government. A response to the report will be issued in due course.

WALES

Departments: Work Permits

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many work permits were applied for by his Department in each of the last five years.

Peter Hain: None.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Film

Edward Vaizey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the names of those invited to her Department's film summit on 12 March.

Shaun Woodward: To inform the further development of the joint DCMS/DTI Creative Economy Programme, we are holding a number of industry summits. The issues raised at these events will inform the Green Paper we plan to publish in the summer.
	The invitation list for the film summit was drawn up following discussions with the UK Film Council. The invitees are:
	
		
			  Invitee  Title 
			 Vaishali Malhotra Eros International 
			 Stewart Till UKFC Board 
			 Josh Berger Warner Bros 
			 Laura De Castro MD, Tartan Films Distribution 
			 Pam Engel Artificial Eye 
			 Sara Frain Metrodome 
			 Ian George MD, Twentieth Century Fox 
			 Alex Hamilton President, Icon Film Distributors 
			 Chris Hedges Managing Director, UIP 
			 Simon Hewlett Managing Director, Universal 
			 Francois Ivernel Managing Director, Pathe Distribution Ltd 
			 Robert Mitchell Buena Vista 
			 Richard Mapper Sony 
			 Sam Nichols Head of Distribution, Momentum Pictures 
			 Danny Perkins Marketing Director, Optimum Releasing 
			 Andy Whittaker MD, Dogwoof Pictures 
			 Tristan Woods-Scawen Film Manager, Contender Entertainment Group 
			 Nigel Green Joint MD, Entertainment Film Distributors 
			 Lyn Goleby City Screen 
			 Sandra Hebron London Film Festival 
			 Ivan Dunleavy Pinewood Studios 
			 Mark Batey CEO, Film Distributors' Association Ltd 
			 Amanda Berry CEO, BAFTA 
			 Fiona Clarke-Hackston Director, British Screen Advisory Council 
			 Grace Carley Managing Director, AIM 
			 Amanda Nevill Director, British Film Institute 
			 Martin Spence Acting Assistant General Secretary, BECTU 
			 John Wilkinson CEO, Cinema Exhibitors Association 
			 Tim Willis PACT 
			 Jeff Alien Managing Director, Panavision 
			 Mark Benson CEO, Moving Picture Company 
			 Michael Elson Deputy MD, Moving Picture Company 
			 Rebecca Hawkes Managing Director, Schedule 2 
			 Alex Hope Managing Director, Double Negative 
			 Matthew Holden CEO, Double Negative 
			 Steve Morris Chief Executive, CFC Framestore 
			 Dennis Weinreich Managing Director, Videosonics 
			 Parminder Vir Ingenious Media/DCMS Board 
			 John Akromfrah Smoking Dog Films 
			 Andrea Calderwood Slate films 
			 Nik Powell National Film and Television School 
			 Douglas Rae Ecosse Films 
			 Simon Relph Skreba 
			 Colin Vaines Miramax 
			 Graham Broadbent Blueprint Pictures 
			 Barbara Broccoli Eon Productions 
			 Jonathan Cavendish Little Bird 
			 Sally Hibbin Parallax Films 
			 Andrew MacDonald DNA Films Ltd 
			 Andy Paterson Archer Street Ltd 
			 Jeremy Thomas Recorded Picture Company 
			 David Thompson BBC Films 
			 Barnaby Thompson Fragile Films 
			 Peter Watson MD, Recorded Picture Company 
			 Stephen Woolley Company of Wolves 
			 Andrew Eaton Revolution Films (UKFC Board) 
			 Alison Owen Ruby Films (UKFC Board) 
			 Marc Samuelson Samuelson Productions (UKFC Board) 
			 Tim Bevan Producer, Working Title 
			 Duncan Kenworthy Producer, DMA Films Ltd 
			 Michael Lynton Chairman/CEO, Sony Pictures Entertainment 
			 Lord David Puttnam Producer, Enigma Productions 
			 Eric Fellner Working Title 
			 Cameron McCracken Pathe Pictures 
			 Jane Barclay Capitol Films 
			 Michael Kuhn Qwerty Films 
			 Caroline Norbury Chief Executive, South West Screen 
			 Debbie Williams Chief Executive, EM - Media 
			 Adrian Wootton Chief Executive, Film London 
			 Joy Wong The Works 
			 Gaynor Davenport Chief Executive, UKPost and Services 
			 Steve Harris Federation of Entertainment Unions 
			 Dinah Caine Skillset 
			 Janine Marmot Skillset 
			 lan Wall Film Education 
			 Tessa Ross Channel 4 Television 
			 Colin Brown British Film Commissioner, UKFC 
			 Steve Knibbs COO, Vue Entertainment 
			 Anthony Minghella Film Director 
			 Rebecca O'Brien Producer, Sixteen Films 
			 Heather Rabbatts CBE Chief Executive, Millwall Football Club 
			 Iain Smith Film Producer 
			 David Sproxton Producer, Aardman Animations 
			 John Woodward Chief Executive, UKFC 
			 Sian Brereton NPL 
			 Jane Wright Head of Rights, BBC 
			 Isabel Begg Head of Business, BBC 
			 Andrew Smith Pinewood Shepperton 
			 Jonathan Olsberg Olsberg SPI 
			 Paul Trijbits Ruby Films

Gaming Clubs

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what independent evidence on social impact was requested by the Casino Advisory Panel.

David Lammy: The primary consideration for the Casino Advisory Panel was to identify areas which would provide the best possible test of social impact.
	The panel commissioned one piece of research work to provide background that would assist in the scoping phase of the panel's work. This is titled "Casinos: Social Impact and Regeneration", and is available on the panel's website at:
	www.culture.gov.uk/cap

Olympic Games: Greater London

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which sites other than Woolwich have been considered as the potential venue for shooting events for the London Olympics; and if she will make a statement.

David Lammy: The Royal Artillery Barracks at Woolwich was agreed as the venue for the Olympic and Paralympic shooting events in 2012 following feedback from the International Olympic Committee to the London Bid organisers on the original venue portfolio submitted in 2004. The original proposal was for the National Shooting Centre, Bisley, but the decision was taken to move to Woolwich in order to provide a more compact games that allowed athletes to train and compete within 30 minutes travel time of the Village. The Great Britain Target Shooting Federation and International Shooting Federation (ISSF) were involved in the decisions about the venue for games shooting competitions.

Tote

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent representations she has received on the sale of the Tote; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: The Government have received and are considering a bid for the Tote from a consortium of racing interests and the staff and management of the Tote itself. The Government will announce how they intend to proceed in due course.

TV Licence

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether a person who owns a black and white television set and a digital set-top box needs to purchase a colour television licence.

Shaun Woodward: holding answer 14 December 2006
	Interpretation of television licence fee regulations is a matter for the BBC as television licensing authority. The Corporation has confirmed its view that, under the current regulations, a colour TV licence is required to install or use a digital set top box to receive television programme services, even if it is used only with a black and white television set The Government accept the Corporation's legal interpretation on this point.
	The Government believe that the option of a black and white television licence should remain available through digital switchover. The licence fee regulations laid before Parliament on 8 March 2007 and due to come into effect on 1 April, will include provisions to ensure that a digital set top box used in conjunction with a television set or monitor that can display images in black and white only can be covered by a black and white TV licence.

VisitBritain: Internet

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the cost was of developing Eviivo, the online booking system used by the VisitBritain website; and how many bookings were taken through this system in the first year of its operation.

Shaun Woodward: VisitBritain's websites do not operate an online booking system.
	Through EnglandNet, VisitBritain offers an online referral service. This enables users of VisitBritain's websites to check availability and pricing of accommodation through existing commercial operators, and then refers them to those operators for completion of bookings.
	The technology which powers VisitBritain's EnglandNet online referral service was built by Agilisys and they continue to provide technical services to the project. Eviivo, an associated company of Agilisys, developed the polling technology used by EnglandNet, which is licensed to VisitBritain through Agilisys.
	Including the appropriate apportioned project cost elements, the total expenditure on the development of the EnglandNet online referral service has been estimated at approximately £450,000.
	EnglandNet is not measured by the number of bookings. However VisitBritain has monitored referrals. Between April 2006 and the end of January 2007, 10,096 referrals were made to commercial operators, with a potential business value of £2,312,590.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Bicycles: Parking

Emily Thornberry: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission pursuant to the answer of 5 February 2007,  Official Report, column 627W, on bicycle parking, which outside security advisers were consulted; and what advice they provided.

Nick Harvey: The House of Commons does not reveal the sources of external advice it relies on for security. The advice provided was that allowing visitors to bring bicycles onto the Estate would heighten the security risk to the Parliamentary Estate.

Energy Usage

Norman Baker: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission pursuant to his answer of 30 January 2007,  Official Report, column 147W, what percentage of energy used on the parliamentary estate was derived from renewable resources in each year; and what targets there are for the future use of such energy.

Nick Harvey: Since 1 October 2003, approximately 10 per cent. of electricity consumed on the parliamentary estate derived from renewable sources. 10 per cent. of the electricity consumed expressed as a percentage of total energy used on the parliamentary estate in each year since 2003 is given as follows.
	
		
			   Percentage 
			 2003-04 (1)— 
			 2004-05 5.0 
			 2005-06 4.8 
			 (1)Purchase of electricity from renewable sources started during 2003-04 
		
	
	The House has instructed its supplier to provide 100 per cent. of its electricity from renewable sources from 1 April 2007.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Afghanistan: Opium

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many hectares of poppy crop in Afghanistan have been eradicated since January 2006; how many hectares have been sprayed; what aid has been paid to poppy farmers; which provinces have been covered by spraying; how many farmers have been offered an alternative crop to plant; and how many farmers have begun to plant an alternative crop.

Hilary Benn: The UN Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC) records that 15,301 hectares of poppy crop was eradicated across Afghanistan in 2006, with 95.8 per cent. of the eradication occurring after January 2006. In 2007, some 7,112 hectares of poppy have been eradicated to date. No Afghan province has been covered by spraying. The Government of Afghanistan (GoA) decided, after wide consultation and internal discussion, against the use of ground-based and aerial spraying on opium poppy crops this year.
	No direct aid has been given to opium farmers who have had their fields eradicated as this would be contrary to the GoA policy. The policy of the Afghanistan Government is to target eradication on areas where alternative livelihoods already exist. Therefore only those farmers who have alternatives will experience poppy eradication. In support of the GoA's National Drug Control Strategy (NCDS), the UK is playing a major role in supporting the development of legal livelihood opportunities in Afghanistan. DFID's Livelihood Programme is worth £150 million over three years, the majority of which is channelled through three National Priority Programmes which address the multiple constraints that prevent farmers from moving away from poppy cultivation.
	DFID's support for the National Rural Access Programme (NRAP) is helping to build essential infrastructure such as irrigation schemes, roads and bridges. This provides much needed infrastructure for economic development and also construction jobs for Afghans at the same time. DFID gave £18 million in 2005-06 for this purpose. Nearly 9,500 km of roads have been built or repaired, as well as schools, health clinics and water schemes. So far the programme has generated over 15 million days of labour.
	DFID's support for the National Solidarity Programme (NSP) is helping local communities through elected community development councils (CDC's) identify what development is most needed in their areas and then receive grants to undertake the work. DFID is providing £17 million to support NSP which has established over 16,000 CDCs across Afghanistan and funded over 22,000 projects in the areas of agriculture, education, health, irrigation, power supply, transport and water supply.
	DFID support to the Micro-Finance Investment Support Facility of Afghanistan (MISFA) is helping Afghans to invest in income-generating activities and increase their savings. DFID is providing £20 million over three years to help give small loans of around £100 to the poor, including farmers, who cannot get credit from banks. So far, over £90 million worth of loans have been given to over 230,000 Afghans including farmers, shopkeepers, tailors and builders.
	DFID has established a £3 million Research in Alternative Livelihoods Fund (RALF) in Afghanistan for applied research into natural resource-based livelihoods. The programme is looking at improved forage and milk production, the introduction of legumes, vegetable crops and saffron, and the medicinal properties of mint as viable alternatives to poppy production for farmers. Mint and saffron are showing early signs of success. The export feasibility of grapes, tomatoes, mushrooms and eggplants is also being examined. This also includes natural products, and post-harvest processing and rural services.
	In addition, DFID funds the Development of Sustainable Agriculture Livelihoods Project in the Eastern Hazarajat (SALEH) which provides new and innovative ways for farmers to make a living in Eastern Hazarajat e.g. honey bee keeping and potato farming.
	Afghan farmers often make their living through a combination of activities. These may change throughout the year, and include agriculture (crops and livestock); employment (migrant labour); remittances (from family members working away from home); and welfare (for vulnerable groups not able to work). DFID therefore supports a wide range of activities to help farmers move away from poppy cultivation and adopt alternative forms of livelihoods.

Afghanistan: Overseas Aid

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support the UK gives to the purchase of seed and fertiliser for Afghan farmers; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: In 2005 DFID contributed £3 million towards a USAID Agriculture Inputs Supply Programme worth $25 million. This programme helped poor and vulnerable farmers across all 34 provinces of Afghanistan gain improved access to subsidised agricultural inputs in order to increase their production of legal crops. The programme has distributed 40,000 metric tonnes of fertiliser and nearly 15,000 tonnes of seed (wheat, potato, onion and carrots) to 537,000 farmers in all 34 provinces.
	DFID and USAID found the programme could be made sustainable into the longer-term by supporting input supplies and offering farmers access to credit. USAID now has an input supply programme and DFID is a major donor to the Micro-Finance Investment Support Facility of Afghanistan (MISFA). This offers small loans to poor people, including farmers, who would otherwise not have access to credit. DFID is providing £20 million to MISFA over a three year period.

Afghanistan: Overseas Aid

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much humanitarian aid was successfully delivered to Afghanistan in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: According to the United Nations Office for Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), the following has been contributed to the humanitarian effort in Afghanistan over the last three years.
	
		
			   USD $ 
			 2004 162,366,273 
			 2005 79,906,460 
			 2006 153,181,425 
		
	
	DFID's programme in Afghanistan has gradually shifted from humanitarian assistance in the immediate post-conflict environment (£44 million in 2001) to longer-term, sustainable development support to the Government of Afghanistan. We now focus on three key areas; building effective state institutions; improving economic management and the effectiveness with which the Afghan Government uses aid; and improving the livelihoods of rural people.
	This year DFID has is providing £1 million for drought mitigation, to fund NGOs working with the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development (MRRD) on water and sanitation projects in the most affected areas. DFID has also provided £30,000 in food aid and other essential items for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Helmand. The UN has estimated that around 2,800 families have been displaced. UK officials are monitoring the situation and we are currently assured that basic needs are being met.
	DFID also supports HALO's de-mining programme in Afghanistan, worth £1.2 million in 2006-07.

Departments: Appeals

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many independent bodies existed to hear appeals on decisions made by his Department and its executive agencies in  (a) 1997-98,  (b) 2001-02 and  (c) 2005-06; and how many there have been in 2006-07 to date.

Gareth Thomas: No independent bodies hear appeals on decisions made by DFID and its executive agencies.

Departments: Complaints

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many complaints were received by his Department and its executive agencies in  (a) 1997-98,  (b) 2001-02 and  (c) 2005-06; and how many have been received in 2006-07 to date.

Gareth Thomas: DFID operates five complaints mechanisms, available through its website. The information for each is as follows:
	1. The public enquiry point deals with a wide range of enquiries. No data are held on what proportion of these are complaints.
	2. Freedom of Information issues: since the Freedom of Information Act came into force in 2005, we received 26 requests for internal reviews in 2005-06 and 12 in 2006-07 to date.
	3. Overseas pensions issues: we received no complaints in 2005-06 or 2006-07 to date. Data are unavailable for previous years.
	4. Recruitment issues: no data are held on the number of complaints.
	5. Procurement issues: no data were held prior to 2005; in 2005-06 there were three complaints and in 2006-07 to date there has been one complaint.

Developing Countries: Children

James Duddridge: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent estimate he has made of the number of displaced children in developing countries.

Hilary Benn: DFID has not made such an assessment. When assessing humanitarian and development needs, we rely on data from organisations which are best placed to collect and collate them. In this case, the closest figure from available data is from UNICEF, who estimate that there are 20 million children currently displaced by armed conflict or human rights violations.

Iraq: Utilities

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent estimate his Department has made of the proportion of the Iraqi population that has access to  (a) safe and stable drinking water and  (b) a stable electricity supply.

Hilary Benn: The most recent reliable data available for water supplies in Iraq come from the Iraq living conditions survey carried out in 2004 by the Iraqi Ministry of Planning and Development Cooperation and the United Nations Development Programme.
	The 2004 UN survey found that in urban areas, 99 per cent. of households have access to safe drinking water (but for 33 per cent. the supply is unreliable). In rural areas, 6 per cent. of households have access to safe drinking water (but for 22 per cent. the supply is unreliable). Since 2003, donors (including DFID) have worked hard to restore supplies. As a result, the US Iraq Reconstruction Management Office (IRMO) estimates that an additional 5.4 million Iraqis have improved access to drinking water.
	IRMO estimate that electricity generation since July 2006 has fluctuated between 3,000 megawatts (MW) and 5,350 MW. The average for 2006 was 4,400 MW, just above the pre-2003 level. During the week of 1-7 March, electricity availability averaged just under six hours per day in Baghdad, 12 hours in Basra and 16 hours in Nasiriyah.
	Although 5,000 MW have been added to the national grid since 2003, electricity generation in Iraq is not meeting demand. This is due to several reasons: old and dilapidated infrastructure; a result of years of under-investment and mismanagement; shortage of fuel supplies; and sabotage of key facilities. Furthermore, demand has increased considerably to over 9,000 MW, with the influx of electrical goods such as refrigerators, televisions and air conditioning units.

Mauritania: Food Aid

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of reports from the United Nations World Food Programme on the supply of food to children in Mauritania; and whether the Government plans to contribute food to Mauritania.

Hilary Benn: In 2006-07, DFID has contributed £250,000 through the World Food Programme (WFP) to support feeding activities for 50,000 malnourished children and vulnerable mothers in the badly affected agro-pastoral zone in the south east of the country.
	DFID is continuing to monitor the humanitarian situation in Mauritania and the other countries in the Sahel closely, and will maintain its flexible humanitarian support to short-term emergency, recovery and mitigation needs over the coming year. Simultaneously, DFID is providing support to tackle longer-term nutritional vulnerability in the region, as well as exploring longer-term options for improving food security. We have recently agreed to provide £1.5 million through the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) over the next three years to improve infant feeding practices in six Sahelian countries; Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger and Benin.

North Korea: Overseas Aid

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether the announcement by the North Korean Government of its decision to abandon its nuclear weapons programme has had an effect on the level of UK humanitarian assistance in North Korea.

Gareth Thomas: There is no change to the UK policy on humanitarian assistance to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). We have never provided such aid bilaterally. We contribute as normal to the current EU programme of humanitarian assistance. Since 1995, around €118 million has been allocated to assist the most vulnerable groups of the population. Humanitarian assistance was provided to cover the immediate needs of flood-affected populations, to address food/nutritional problems, improve access to water as well as health care. The programme is expected to end in May 2008.

Sudan: Internally Displaced Persons

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent estimate he has made of the number of internally displaced persons in Sudan.

Hilary Benn: In total, there are approximately four million people displaced in Sudan. Of these, over two million are in Darfur and a further two million who remain displaced as a result of the previous North-South conflict. Around 500,000 of these are expected to return to South Sudan and the Three Areas (former front-line areas) in 2007. They will join an estimated one million people who have already returned to the South since January 2004. There are also around 70,000 people displaced in the East as a result of the now-ended conflict there.

Sudan: Internally Displaced Persons

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent estimate his Department has made of the numbers of internally-displaced people in Darfur.

Hilary Benn: The UN estimates that there are currently over two million people displaced in Darfur. However, the exact number of displaced people is difficult to ascertain as many parts of Darfur are highly insecure and inaccessible. This is further compounded as some displaced people have been forced to move for a second or even a third time.

USA: Corruption

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions he has had with the government of the United States on tackling corruption.

Hilary Benn: DFID staff meet regularly with their counterparts from the USA. The key contact is with staff from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) but there are also frequent meetings with staff from the United States Department of Justice and State Department.
	At Head Office level, in addition to one-to-one discussions, DFID staff and American staff work closely on the Anti-Corruption Task Team of the OECD Development Assistance Committee and on the expert groups to advise on the implementation of the UN Convention Against Corruption.
	At a country level DFID and USAID work closely together on donor working groups on corruption and governance in countries such as Zambia and Yemen.

DEFENCE

Armed Forces: Housing

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the profit-sharing scheme between HM Treasury and Annington Homes for sales of former Ministry of Defence housing and land includes provisions to take account of increases in the value of land due to  (a) planning zone changes and  (b) private development.

Derek Twigg: The Profit Share Agreement with Annington Homes Ltd (AHL) does not define "planning zone changes". However, the position is that even if AHL has not disposed of land by 2011, should planning permission has been granted on land, it will be assumed to have been sold and the market value will be established on that basis at the time.
	There are no provisions relating specifically to private development, but any increase in the value of the land (for whatever reason) will be directly passed to the Ministry of Defence.

Armoured Fighting Vehicles

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to change the future rapid effect system programme; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The Department reviewed the future rapid effect system (FRES) programme in 2006 to take account of our experience on operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and in the light of recent developments in vehicle technology and protection systems. This review aimed to ensure we deliver the best possible vehicles able to meet the operational needs of the British Army through life.
	The review also covered aspects of the procurement strategy, highlighting the need for an open systems architecture and the vital importance of UK residence for intellectual property underpinning the FRES systems. This point was praised by the House of Commons Defence Committee in their report entitled 'The Army's requirement for armoured fighting vehicles: the FRES programme' published on 21 February 2007.
	This review was completed last year. The procurement strategy has now been announced and we are now making rapid progress on the FRES programme with candidate vehicle designs undergoing proving trials this summer and the winning vehicle(s) selected by November 2007 to proceed to the next stage. It is essential to carry out this detailed assessment of the candidate vehicle designs and to drive out programme risk before the major investment decision is taken. Wednesday 14 March

Ballistic Missile Defence: USA

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he was first informed that  (a) the US planned to use its Satellite Based Infra Red System (SBIRS) at Fylingdales to provide critical data for national missile defence systems and  (b) SBIRS was key to the US's ability to cue systems that would be used for active missile defence; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: There are no plans to use RAF Fylingdales as part of the Space Based Infra Red System (SBIRS). The role of SBIRS in the US ballistic missile defence system has been well understood by the UK for a number of years.

Ballistic Missile Defence: USA

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which sites in the UK are being considered for the possible deployment of US missiles for the US Missile Defense system.

Adam Ingram: No sites in the UK are presently under consideration as possible locations for a ground based interceptor site.

Clyde Submarine Base: Ambulance Services

John McFall: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what the reasons are for the change in the extent of ambulance cover at HM Naval Base Clyde;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the effects on health and safety of the change in the extent of ambulance cover at HM Naval Base Clyde; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The Scottish Ambulance Service provides cover at HMNB Clyde, which is currently augmented by full time on-site cover. The provision of ambulance cover at HMNB Clyde was reviewed last year as part of a base initiative to consider how best to reduce costs without affecting outputs. The proposed changes involve a cessation of on-site cover at weekends and Bank holidays. These arrangements are consistent with national and military guidelines, which recommend that an initial response to a serious life threatening incident should be provided within eight minutes.

Courts Martial

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what  (a) correspondence and  (b) instructions he issued to (i) the army prosecuting authority and (ii) unit commanders following receipt of the Attorney- General's letter on prosecutions of members of the armed forces dated 23 March 2005.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 22 February 2007
	The Attorney-General and the Secretary of State have corresponded about issues relating to military justice.
	The army prosecuting authority is an independent prosecuting authority under the general superintendence of the Attorney-General. It would have been inappropriate for there to have been correspondence between the Secretary of State and the APA concerning its responsibilities relating to particular cases referred to it under the Army Act 1955, and there has been none. Nor have any instructions been issued by or on behalf of the Secretary of State to the APA, to unit commanders, or to anyone else with responsibility for the investigation or prosecution of offences.

Defence: Finance

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the change in defence spending in  (a) real and  (b) actual terms was in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: This information was published in HM Treasury's Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses, CM6811, in May 2006 a copy of which is in the Library of the House and is available at www.hm-treasury.gov.uk

Departments: Assets

Mark Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which fixed assets his Department sold for more than £50,000 in  (a) 2004-05 and  (b) 2005-06; and what the (i) sale value, (ii) purchaser and (iii) date of sale was of each asset.

Adam Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave him on 29 January 2007,  Official Report, column 27W and 20 February 2007,  Official Report, column 620W for information about non-property assets.
	I will place in the Library of the House a list of those sales of over £50,000, including the month of sale. I am unable to provide sale values as we are unable to assess the potential commercial interests of the large number of buyers without incurring disproportionate cost. Details of purchasers are not held centrally and could be provided at disproportionate cost only.

Ex-servicemen

Mark Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people  (a) are eligible for and  (b) have applied for the UK armed forces veterans lapel badge in (i) the UK and (ii) Cheadle constituency.

Derek Twigg: The Ministry of Defence has insufficient information to make an accurate assessment of the number of people entitled to HM armed forces veterans lapel badge but estimate that the total number is around five million.
	Between May 2004 and 17 April 2005 some 82,000 badges were issued but detailed records of applications were not kept. Between 18 April 2005 and 9 February 2007 a further 337,387 applications have been received and 313,099 badges issued.
	Information is not held on applicants' addresses by parliamentary constituency and the information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost. I can state that 237 badges have been sent to individuals giving Cheadle as their address.

Hyper-sonic Mass Technology

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the role of hyper-sonic mass technology in the Defence Industrial Strategy.

Adam Ingram: Hyper-sonic mass technology is identified briefly in section Bl1 of the Defence Industrial Strategy, published December 2005, but further clarification is contained within section B7 of the Defence Technology Strategy, published October 2006. Copies of both strategies are available in the Library of the House.

Iraq: Peace Keeping Operations

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the design advantages of  (a) a flat bottomed vehicle and  (b) positioning the driver over a front wheel when considering the protection of British armed forces on operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Adam Ingram: I will not comment on specific levels of protection for reasons of operational security.

Iraq: Peace Keeping Operations

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether British troops will be protected from vertically impacting indirect fire when all are accommodated at Basra air base.

Adam Ingram: There is currently a substantial level of protection against mortar and rocket fire afforded to troops at Basra air station, and which has already saved lives. The MOD is continuing to invest in further improvements.
	Development of appropriate measures (equipment, vehicles and infrastructure) to best protect our troops is a dynamic and constantly evolving process to keep ahead of the threat. Improved countermeasures, tactics and intelligence are continually being developed and the MOD has invested huge amounts (over half a billion pounds across all theatres) in force protection over recent years.
	It would be inappropriate to specify in detail much of this work in the interests of operational security.

Iraq: Peace Keeping Operations

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many requests from Iraqi authorities have been received by British forces to re-intervene in  (a) Muthanna and  (b) Dhi Qar since the handover of security responsibility to the Iraqis in each of these provinces.

Adam Ingram: British Forces have not received any requests from Iraqi authorities to re-intervene in Muthanna or Dhi Qar since the handover of security responsibility to the Iraqis in these provinces.

Land: Contamination

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what instructions have been given by Defence Estates to his Department's agents Drivers Jonas on the disposal of contaminated sites and interpretation of Treasury advice to obtain best value.

Derek Twigg: The disposal instructions given by Defence Estates to its agents will vary from case to case, but generally require the property to be sold with the benefit of relevant marketing material, including an information pack, land quality assessment and planning position statement. In accordance with Treasury and departmental guidelines, the property will normally be sold through open competition, either through a formal tender; or informal tender or auction, unless it is required by another Government Department or public body or there are former owner (Crichel Down) considerations.

Nimrod Aircraft

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average age is of Nimrod aircraft in the UK fleet.

Adam Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 16 October 2006,  Official Report, column 985W to the hon. Member for Wellingborough (Mr. Bone).

Peace Keeping Operations: Democratic Republic of Congo

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the current establishment level is working with UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo; and what the future establishment is likely to be.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 13 March 2007
	The UK currently has six military officers working in the UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo, including the post of chief of staff in the Eastern division in Kisangani. We have no plans to change our contribution, but would consider any requests to do so, should the UN declare a review of its commitment at some future point.

Red Arrows

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effect on  (a) recruitment to and  (b) morale of the RAF of maintaining the Red Arrows.

Des Browne: No specific study has been undertaken to assess the effect on recruitment and morale of maintaining the Royal Air Force Acrobatic Team, popularly known as the Red Arrows. That said, many potential recruits mention that one of the motivating factors for their interest in joining the RAF is the Red Arrows.

Warships: Procurement

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the 28 new ships referred to by the Minister for the armed forces on 26 February 2007,  Official Report, column 660, as having joined the fleet since 1997, together with the dates on which each of them  (a) was ordered and  (b) joined the fleet.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 12 March 2007
	Details of vessels taken into service since 1997 are as follows:
	
		
			  In-service date  Year ordered  Description 
			 1997 1992 Type 23 Frigate, Sutherland 
			  1992 Type 23 Frigate, Grafton 
			  1995 Survey Ship, Scott 
			
			 1998 1993 Landing Platform Helicopter, Ocean 
			  1995 Sandown Class Single Role Mine Hunter, Penzance, Pembroke 
			  1996 Inshore Patrol Vessel, Tracker, Raider 
			
			 1999 1992 Vanguard Class Nuclear Submarine, Vengeance 
			  1995 Sandown Class Single Role Mine Hunter, Grimsby 
			
			 2000 1996 Type 23 Frigate, Kent 
			  1995 Sandown Class Single Role Mine Hunter, Bangor, Ramsey 
			 2001 1996 Type 23 Frigate, Portland 
			  1995 Sandown Class Single Role Mine Hunter, Blyth 
			
			 2002 1996 Type 23 Frigate, St Albans 
			  1995 Sandown Class Single Role Mine Hunter, Shoreham 
			
			 2003 1996 Landing Platform Dock, Albion 
			  2001 River Class Patrol Vessel, Tyne, Severn, Mersey 
			  2000 Survey Ship, Echo, Enterprise 
			  1997 Auxiliary, Wave Knight, Wave Ruler 
			
			 2004 — None 
			
			 2005 1996 Landing Platform Dock, Bulwark 
			
			 2006 2000 Landing Ship Dock (Auxiliary), Mounts Bay, Largs Bay, Cardigan Bay 
		
	
	The total number of vessels that have entered service since 1997 now stands at 29, following the acceptance into service of RFA Cardigan Bay in December 2006.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Avian Influenza: Halton

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs who paid the catchers of the H5N1 infected turkeys at Halton; and what  (a) briefing and  (b) instructions they were given prior to undertaking that task.

Ben Bradshaw: The majority of catchers used at Holton were either employees of, or contracted to, Bernard Matthews. In addition to these individuals, a team of catchers directly contracted to my Department, but working under the supervision of Bernard Matthews were deployed to the site on Sunday 4 February. Their briefing and instructions covered health and safety, biosecurity and animal welfare considerations.
	The State Veterinary Service (SVS) supervised the catching and culling operation.
	The Health Protection Unit was fully engaged with human health risk assessments for SVS staff, farm workers and those involved in the control operation. As a precautionary measure, those involved in disease control were offered the appropriate preventive treatment with antiviral drugs (oseltamivir), seasonal flu vaccine and avian influenza personnel protective equipment, in line with established protocols.

Bovine Tuberculosis

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the timescale is for the development of a new strategy on bovine tuberculosis.

Ben Bradshaw: The 'Government strategic framework for the sustainable control of bovine tuberculosis (bTB) in Great Britain' was published in March 2005 with the aim of bringing about a sustainable improvement in the control of bTB over a 10 year timeframe. In accordance with the strategic framework, the Government are working in partnership with interested organisations to reduce bTB by tailoring policies to reflect regional variation in disease risk and emerging evidence.

Bovine Tuberculosis: Disease Control

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what change there has been in the incidence of TB in the badger population in the last 12 months;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the effect of change in the incidence of TB in the badger population on the incidence of TB in cattle.

Ben Bradshaw: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 7 March 2007,  Official Report columns 2005-06W.

Bovine Tuberculosis: Disease Control

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what assessment his Department has made of the impact of bovine tuberculosis testing on small scale sales of livestock, including auction marts;
	(2)  what assessment his Department has made of the impact of the cost of tuberculosis testing of farms with small numbers of livestock.

Ben Bradshaw: The impact of pre-movement testing on livestock markets and small herd owners was considered in a regulatory impact assessment (RIA), which is available on the DEFRA website at:
	www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/tb/pdf/prmt-regulatory.pdf
	I have arranged for copies of this document to be placed in the Libraries of the House.
	Options are available to obviate the need for pre-movement testing. Exempt markets and exempt finishing units provide a route for moving and marketing cattle that normally should be pre-movement tested without being tested. Herd owners can also discuss with their local Animal Health Divisional Office the possibility of utilising their routine surveillance test as pre-movement tests by moving it forward to coincide with the time of year that they make their peak cattle movements.

Bovine Tuberculosis: Disease Control

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he has taken to improve the management of private vets in their undertaking of state-funded tuberculosis testing since the DNV Consulting report on veterinary surgeons within the Meat Hygiene Service.

Ben Bradshaw: Staff from the Meat Hygiene Service (MHS) do not carry out TB testing on live cattle. The DNV consulting report, "Review of TB Testing", considered testing by local veterinary inspectors and staff within the State Veterinary Service (SVS) only.
	A CD-rom training package is being prepared for use by all veterinary surgeons undertaking TB testing, which will be rolled out shortly. The instructions for carrying out the test have also been revised. The management of private veterinary surgeons in relation to TB testing is being reviewed as part of the "Official Veterinarian" Reform programme. The aim of this programme is to create a more formal relationship with the practitioner in terms of quality assurance etcetera. A pilot is due to start next month.

EU Emissions Trading Scheme

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of allowances under the UK national allocation plan of the EU Emissions Trading scheme he plans to be  (a) auctioned,  (b) sold without auction and  (c) distributed free to account holders in the Emissions Trading Registry under (i) the first phase of the scheme and (ii) the second phase of the scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: The EU Emissions Trading scheme directive requires 95 per cent. of allowances to be allocated for free in Phase I and 90 per cent. of allowances to be allocated for free in Phase II.
	The UK's Phase I National Allocation plan (NAP) states that we intend to sell or auction any surplus allowances remaining in the new entrant reserve (NER). The original NER consisted of 6.3 per cent. of the total allocation and most of this has now been allocated, so the UK has been able to quantify the surplus available for auction or sale. On 23 February, DEFRA announced that we would sell some surplus allowances through brokers. The exact number of allowances to be sold is market sensitive information.
	The UK's Phase II NAP states that we will auction 7 per cent. of allowances plus any surplus NER and allowances from closures. Should the total which makes up this "auctioning pot" reach more than 10 per cent. we will cancel allowances so that we don't exceed the maximum allowed in Phase II. "Auction" encompasses sale, auction and any other routes to market for charge. The route to market will be dependent on market conditions. We expect to hold the first Phase II auction early on in this phase.

Foot and Mouth Disease: Disease Control

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what controls are imposed on imported food from countries where foot and mouth disease has existed in the last five years.

Ben Bradshaw: Before a third country is approved to export to the European Union (EU), the exporting country must have:
	(i) an acceptable disease status
	(ii) a recognised standard for relevant control authorities
	(iii) guarantees with regard to compliance with EU import rules; and
	(iv) results of European Commission missions to the country.
	All meat imported from third countries must be accompanied by veterinary certification. This must confirm that the meat is derived from animals that have been subjected to a veterinary inspection during the 24 hour period prior to slaughter and showed no signs of foot and mouth disease. The meat must enter the UK at designated border inspection posts, where it is subject to veterinary inspections.
	All consignments are subject to documentary and identity checks and at least 20 per cent. of consignments undergo physical checks by an official veterinary surgeon. These measures ensure import conditions are met and that the products remain in a satisfactory condition during transport.
	Meat imported from other member states is not checked at the frontier, but is subject to random checks at the point of destination.
	If there is an outbreak of disease likely to present a risk to human or animal health, Community legislation allows us to take appropriate safeguard action, which may include a ban on imports of meat from all, or parts, of that country.

National Coastwatch Institute

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether his Department makes use of information gathered by the National Coastwatch Institute as part of its work assessing coastal shores.

Stephen Ladyman: I have been asked to reply.
	The Department for Transport and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency value the contribution the National Coastwatch Institution (NCI) make in informing Her Majesty's Coastguard about any potential or actual incidents relating to safety at sea and on the coast. The Coastguard will take appropriate action in response to reports of people in difficulty received from the NCI.
	The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs does not use information gathered by the NCI as part of its work in assessing coastal shores.

Seas and Oceans: Environment Protection

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he is taking to protect the marine environment; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 13 March 2007
	The Government's vision for the marine environment is for clean healthy, safe, productive and biologically diverse oceans and seas. To help deliver this vision we are acting internationally, at European level and at home.
	Internationally we have been instrumental in setting a timetable to end destructive high seas bottom trawling. In Europe we have engaged with new initiatives from the Commission and worked hard to see an acceptable political agreement on the Marine Strategy Directive last December. Domestically we have recently announced the licensing of several offshore windfarms which, while ensuring environmental impacts are properly taken into account, together will make a major contribution to provision of renewable energy.
	The forthcoming Offshore Marine Conservation (Natural Habitats, and c.) Regulations 2007 will meet the UK's obligations to transpose the Birds and Habitats Directive in the offshore marine area. We are also preparing a new Marine Bill. This will put in place a better system for delivering sustainable development of our marine environment, addressing both the use and protection of our marine resources.

SCOTLAND

Departments: Equal Opportunities

Lorely Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps his Department is taking to implement the gender equality duty due to come into force on 6 April 2007.

David Cairns: The Scotland Office is part of the Department for Constitutional Affairs and I would refer the hon. Member to the replies given by my right hon. Friend, the Minister of State for Constitutional Affairs (Ms Harman), on 19 February,  Official Report, cols. 291 and 292W.

Departments: Equal Opportunities

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps his Department  (a) has taken and  (b) plans to take to ensure that it and related bodies are in compliance with the gender equality duty in the Equality Act 2006 by the April 2007 deadline.

David Cairns: The Scotland Office is part of the Department for Constitutional Affairs and I would refer the hon. Member to the replies given by my right hon. Friend, the Minister of State for Constitutional Affairs (Ms Harman), on 19 February,  Official Report, cols. 291 and 292W.

Departments: Equal Opportunities

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether his Department has  (a) a gender strategy and  (b) a gender equality action plan in place.

David Cairns: holding answer 6 March 2007
	The Scotland Office is part of the Department for Constitutional Affairs and I would refer my hon. Friend to the replies given by my right hon. Friend, the Minister of State for Constitutional Affairs (Ms Harman), on 19 February,  Official Report, cols. 291 and 292W.

Departments: Redunancy

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much was spent on  (a) involuntary and  (b) voluntary staff exit schemes in (i) his Department and (ii) each agency of the Department in each year since 1997-98; how much is planned to be spent for 2007-08; and if he will make a statement.

David Cairns: The Scotland Office was established on 1 July 1999.
	The Office does not operate staff exit schemes. All staff in the Scotland Office are on loan from the Department of Constitutional Affairs or from the Scottish Executive and it is these Departments who would have operated any such schemes.

Departments: Work Permits

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many work permits were applied for by his Department in each of the last five years.

David Cairns: None.

Scottish Parliament: Elections

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the use of powers in the draft Scottish Parliament (Elections etc.) Order 2007.

David Cairns: The Scottish Parliament (Elections etc.) Order 2007 is made under sections 12 (1) and 113 of the Scotland Act 1998. The Order makes provision for the conduct of elections for, and the return of members to, the Scottish Parliament.
	Both Houses agreed the provisions of the Order in their debates on the Order on 7 March.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Children: Day Care

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average cost is of child care for  (a) school aged and  (b) pre-school children in each region, including London.

Beverley Hughes: The Department does not hold data on the average weekly costs of child care. However the findings of a recent survey by the Daycare Trust can be found on their website;
	www.daycaretrust.org.uk
	We are doing more than ever before to make good quality child care and early education accessible and affordable. We are providing substantial help (over £2 million a day) through the tax credit system to over 395,000 lower and middle income families. The free, early education entitlement gives 12.5 hours of free provision per week to all 3 and 4-year-olds.
	London has higher child care costs than elsewhere and that is why we are contributing £11 million funding to a £33 million joint Greater London Authority, London Development Agency and DfES three year Childcare Affordability Pilot to provide 10,000 affordable child care places for lower income families.

Children: Day Care

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many child care places are provided by  (a) children's centres,  (b) daycare nurseries,  (c) neighbourhood nurseries,  (d) wraparound schools,  (e) childminders and  (f) nannies.

Beverley Hughes: The available information on the number of registered child care places for children under eight is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Table 1 Number ( 1,2)  of registered child care places for children under eight years of age by type of care England—Position at 31 March 2006 
			  Type of care  Number of places 
			 Full day care 565,700 
			 Sessional day care 237,100 
			 Childminders 322,200 
			 Out of school day care 366,500 
			 Creche day care 46,300 
			 (1) Rounded to the nearest 100 places. (2) Data Source: Ofsted 
		
	
	These figures include the number of child care places in Neighbourhood Nurseries and Children's Centres which are not available separately.
	Information on the number of child care places provider by nannies is not available. However, the Survey of Parents Demand for Childcare and Early Years Services suggests that 1 per cent. of families used nannies in the last week 2004/05.
	The latest figures on registered child care provider and places are available on the following website:
	www.ofsted.gov.uk/

Departmental Secondment

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills from which private companies staff in his Department have been seconded.

Parmjit Dhanda: The Department currently has a total of 81 secondments, the vast majority of which are from across the wider public sector, for example, from local authorities, education providers and county councils. There are currently two secondments from the private sector, one from the Building Research Establishment and the other from the Diocese of Bath and Wells.

Departmental Staff

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list the departmental publications printed since 1997 covering  (a) gender,  (b) disability and  (c) minority personnel issues; how many pages each comprised; how many pages of the document each occupied; and if he will place copies of each in the Library.

Parmjit Dhanda: The information requested is not held centrally.

Departments: Redundancy

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much was spent on  (a) involuntary and  (b) voluntary staff exit schemes in (i) his Department and (ii) each agency of the Department in each year since 1997-98; how much is planned to be spent for 2007-08; and if he will make a statement.

Parmjit Dhanda: There have been no redundancies in the Department since 1997 and we remain committed to minimise recourse to compulsory redundancies. Nonetheless, there have been voluntary early releases. From the 1997-98 financial year to the end of the 2006-07 financial year the total cost to the Department, arising from the provisions of the Civil Service Compensation Scheme, were as follows:
	
		
			  Financial year  Total cost to DfES (£ million) 
			 1997-98 5.15 
			 1998-99 2.73 
			 1999-2000 4.237 
			 2000-01 4.06 
			 2001-02 6.142 
			 2002-03 5.57 
			 2003-04 2.54 
			 2004-05 17.1 
			 2005-06 15.1 
			 2006-07 10.553 
		
	
	For the financial year 2007-08, the Department has committed £2.591 million for voluntary early releases and there is currently nothing further planned.
	The Department has had no agencies since 2001 and agency information for the financial years 1997 to 2001 is not held centrally.

Education Maintenance Allowance: West Midlands

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many people in  (a) Coventry and  (b) the West Midlands have received an educational maintenance allowance; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Hope: This is a matter for the Learning and Skills Council, who operate education maintenance allowances (EMA) for the DfES and hold the information about take-up of the scheme. Mark Haysom, the council's Chief Executive, has written to my hon. Friend with the information requested and a copy of his reply has been placed in the House Library.
	 Letter from Rob Wye, dated 2 March 2007:
	I write on behalf of Mark Haysom as he is currently out of the office on annual leave. In response to your Parliamentary Question 119583 that asked; "How many people in (a) Coventry and (b) the West Midlands have received a educational maintenance allowance"
	By the end of January 2007, 3,579 young people in the Coventry Local Authority area had applied, enrolled and received one or more Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) payments during the 2006/07 academic year.
	By the end of January 2007, 60,688 young people in the West Midlands had applied, enrolled and received one or more EMA payments during the 2006/07 academic year.

English Language

Bob Blizzard: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what modifications he plans to make to his announced changes to English for Speakers of Other Languages provision; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: I have considered the impact of the proposed changes to ESOL funding as part of the Race Equality Impact Assessment (REIA) and I am minded to consider a range of new measures in addition to those the LSC previously announced on 18 October 2007 to reprioritise funding towards the most vulnerable. These are:
	Re-instating eligibility for those asylum seekers who are in the UK legally and whose claims are not resolved within six months;
	Re-instating eligibility for those asylum seekers who are unable to return or be returned to their country of origin for circumstances beyond their control and who are eligible for Section 4 support;
	Prioritising funding at local level through the Learning and Skills Council's Learner Hardship Support Fund towards support for spouses and individuals who may not have access to their household benefit documentation or their own funds; and
	Agreeing with the Learning and Skills Council an approach to evidencing low pay for fee remission purposes which enables flexible use of a raft of evidence, including wider benefits and other evidence.
	I have asked officials to work with the Learning and Skills Council and other partners to finalise the detail urgently. I will then make a statement.

Language Training

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which benefits individuals must receive in order to receive English for Speakers of Other Languages courses free of charge.

Phil Hope: Changes to funding for ESOL include the withdrawal of automatic fee remission from courses, but learners who are in receipt of JobSeekers Allowance and income related benefits, including working tax credit, will still be eligible for full fee remission. This will help us to focus public funding on those learners most in need of public help and support.
	Details of the benefits which learners must be receiving to qualify for full fee remission are a matter for the Learning and Skills Council. Mark Haysom, the Chief Executive, has written to my hon. Friend explaining the more detailed arrangements when they have been agreed. A copy of his reply has been placed in the House Library.
	 Letter from Rob Wye dated 2 March 2007:
	I write on behalf of Mark Haysom as he is currently out of the office on annual leave, in response to your question to the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, regarding the benefits individuals must receive in order to receive English for Speakers of Other Languages free of charge eligibility for fee remission is set out in the published LSC booklet 'Funding Guidance for Further Education in 2006-07' paragraph 127. This states benefits that grant fee remission to learners and includes the following:
	unemployed people in receipt of Jobseeker's Allowance
	those in receipt of income-based benefits, formerly known as means-tested benefits, the main income-based benefits are council tax benefit, housing benefit, income support and jobseeker's allowance (income-based)
	those in receipt of working tax credit with a household income of less than £15,050
	those in receipt of pension credits - guarantee credit
	the unwaged dependants (as defined by Jobcentre Plus) of those listed above

Learning Disability

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps he is taking to improve the detection of learning difficulties in children at an early age.

Parmjit Dhanda: The Special Educational Needs (SEN) Code of Practice gives guidance to early years settings and primary schools on identification, assessment and making provision for all children with SEN, including those with learning difficulties. SEN Coordinators in early years settings and schools facilitate early identification and intervention for children with SEN.
	The Government's SEN strategy "Removing Barriers to Achievement" (2004) set out a long-term programme for improving identification of and provision for children with SEN, including early identification and intervention. The Government's response to the Education and Skills Committee's report on SEN renewed this strategy and set out a programme for building capacity in the children's workforce to identify and meet children's SEN.
	The Government have introduced a number of measures to increase the take up of child care, meaning that more children will have access to the services and facilities required for effective early identification of a child's needs and intervention. In addition £50 million has been allocated between 2006 and 2008 for the Transformation Fund to improve the quality of the child care workforce. One of the key aims is to provide training to help professionals identify and work with children with additional needs. Early identification and intervention is also central to the new statutory framework for children from birth to five, the Early Years Foundation Stage, which comes into force in September 2008.

Learning Disability

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate he has made of the percentage of people in England who have undertaken tests for learning difficulties.

Parmjit Dhanda: This information is not collected centrally.

Parents: Intimidation

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what support is available for families in which there are instances of violence towards parents by children;
	(2)  what discussions he has had with  (a) ministerial colleagues and  (b) family support groups about the needs of families that experience instances of violence towards parents by children.

Parmjit Dhanda: The Department, via the Children, Young People and Families, Strengthening Families and Family Support grant programmes, supports 207 third sector projects that enable an increase in family and relationship support. These projects provide a range of information, advice and guidance which may include support for parents, carers and families experiencing different levels and types of family and relationship difficulties. This support might include, but is not specifically aimed at, families in which there may be instances of violence towards parents by children.
	No discussions have been held with ministers or parent support groups on this specific issue.

School Meals

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what advice he received from the Food Standards Agency (FSA) in response to the recommendations of the Turning the Tables report produced by the School Meals Review Panel (SMRP); what the scientific basis was of  (a) the recommendations of the SMRP report and  (b) the FSA advice; and what differences there are between (i) the SMRP recommendations and (ii) the FSA advice and the final standards set out in the Education (Nutritional Standards for School Lunches) Regulations 2000.

Parmjit Dhanda: The School Meals Review Panel (SMRP) was established by DfES in May 2005 to advise on standards for school lunches. The SMRP's 'Turning the Tables - Transforming School Food' report, published in October 2005, set out their recommendations to Ministers.
	The SMRP's report recommended that new combined 'food' and 'nutrient' based standards were needed to bring about effective changes to school lunches and should replace the previous standards introduced in 2001. The report included references to the published scientific studies that were considered during the panel's deliberations. The full report can be viewed at:
	http://www.schoolfoodtrust.org.uk/documents.asp?DocCatld=1
	The first phase of the changes to school lunches began with the introduction, in September, of the Education (Nutritional Standards for School Lunches) (England) Regulations 2006. Schools will need to adhere to final 'food' and 'nutrient' based lunch standards by September 2008 (primary schools) and September 2009 (secondary schools). These will be set out in later regulations that will be laid before Parliament later this year.
	The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is an independent Government Department established to protect the public's health and consumer interests in relation to food. It advises DFES on scientific and technical aspects including food safety, nutrition and diet.
	Officials from the FSA acted as observers at SMRP meetings and provided technical advice to DfES on those issues that fell within its remit. This advice was broadly supportive of those aspects of the SMRP's recommendations that were within the FSA's remit and assisted with the formulation of the 2006 Regulations. The FSA's advice was provided in line with its nutrition policy, which is informed by considerations of the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition and formerly the Committee on Medical Aspects of Food Policy.
	The Nutritional Standards for School Lunches introduced in September 2006 implemented all of the SMRP's 'food based' recommendations, with a minor amendment to acceptable drinks:
	A reduction to the amount of added sugar in milk based drinks from no more than 10 per cent. to no more than 5 per cent.;
	The addition of soya drinks enriched with calcium as an additional option.

School Meals

Malcolm Moss: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment his Department has made of the potential effects on  (a) nutrition and  (b) costs which might arise from use of new-generation steam convection ovens in school kitchens; and what advice he has received from the School Food Trust on this subject.

Parmjit Dhanda: The Department for Education and Skills has not made an assessment of the potential nutritional benefits and savings which might arise from the use of new-generation steam convention ovens in schools. The School Food Trust has not provided advice to the Department on this subject.

TRANSPORT

Biofuels

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will support a mandatory 10 per cent. minimum target for use of biofuels by 2020 at the EU Spring Summit.

Stephen Ladyman: At the EU spring summit on 8 and 9 March member states, including the UK, agreed to set a minimum target for biofuels of 10 per cent. share of total petrol and diesel consumption to be introduced in a cost-efficient way in Europe by 2020 subject to a number of conditions. In particular, the target should be binding only if production of the biofuels is sustainable, second-generation biofuels become commercially available and the Fuel Quality Directive is amended to allow for adequate levels of blending.
	These conditions are broadly consistent with the conditions the Government have proposed in relation to the future development of the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) that is due to start in April 2008. A consultation on the long-term future of the RTFO is currently under way. The RTFO will require transport fuel suppliers to ensure that 5 per cent. of their total transport fuel sale comes from biofuels by 2010-11. The Government have made clear that they are committed to increasing the level of the RTFO beyond 5 per cent. provided that similar conditions around sustainability, technical feasibility and costs to consumers are met and that it represents an effective use of our biomass resources.

Motor Vehicles: Registration

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the requirements are for the registration of Class 3 vehicles with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA); what factors were taken into account in deciding those requirements; and what steps have been taken by the DVLA to convey this information to the owners of Class 3 vehicles.

Stephen Ladyman: All mechanically propelled vehicles, including class 3 invalid carriages, used or kept on public roads are required by law to be registered.
	DVLA has been liaising with suppliers of class 3 vehicles to inform them about the registration requirements for these vehicles. Special information packs, which provide guidance on how to complete the first registration application forms, are available to suppliers and members of the public. Information about the registration requirements for class 3 vehicles is published at:
	www.direct.gov.uk/motoring.

Motor Vehicles: Registration

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many and what proportion of Class 3 vehicles have been registered.

Stephen Ladyman: Official statistics indicate that at the end of September 2006, fewer than 100 class 3 vehicles were registered. Since then, it is estimated that the figure now exceeds 1,500.
	The proportion of registered vehicles to unregistered vehicles is unknown.

Motor Vehicles: Registration

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the annual administration cost to his Department is of registering Class 3 vehicles, including the cost of issuing literature and advice.

Stephen Ladyman: The Department does not record separate administration costs for registering class 3 vehicles. The unit cost for processing registration applications for vehicles of that type is £33.61.
	DVLA issues advice and literature about the registration and licensing procedures for all types of vehicles generally.

Railways: Swindon

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the status is of the proposal to redouble the line between Kemble and Swindon currently with Network Rail; and if he will make a statement.

Tom Harris: pursuant to the reply, 6 March 2007, Official Report, c. 1853-54W
	I understand that Network Rail has consulted industry parties on possible changes to the Kemble to Swindon line to improve performance.

Roads: Expenditure

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the total cost is of road schemes approved in  (a) the Targeted Programme of Improvements,  (b) local transport plans and  (c) the Community Infrastructure Fund.

Stephen Ladyman: The total approved cost of road schemes currently in  (a) the Targeted Programme of Improvements is £11.897 billion.
	The total approved cost of major road schemes in  (b) local transport plans is £1.385 billion, of which the Department's agreed contribution is £1.128 billion. These figures exclude PFI credit funding for schemes that are being taken forward through the private finance initiative or those schemes that have already been completed.
	The total cost of road schemes agreed under  (c), the Community Infrastructure Fund is £82.2 million.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Businesses: Orders and Regulations

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the  (a) one-off and  (b) recurring cost of implementing the Electricity, Safety, Quality and Continuing (Amendment) Regulation 2006 to (i) businesses and (ii) the regulators.

Malcolm Wicks: The information is as follows.
	 (a) The regulatory impact assessment (RIA) for the Electricity Safety, Quality and Continuity (Amendment) Regulations 2006 has not estimated any one-off costs to businesses or regulators.
	 (b) The RIA estimates the net cost to electricity companies at £16,800,000 per annum, reducing to £11,500,000 per annum by year 10 and £4,750,000 per annum by year 25. The RIA has identified audit costs to DTI of around £50,000 (every two or four years) to audit the vegetation management work of duty holders.

Combined Heat and Power

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the planned timetable for grants for small community projects with micro-generation was; what the timetable for that programme is now; and what the reasons are for the change.

Malcolm Wicks: From April 2006 to February 2007, small scale community projects received grant support through the Low Carbon Buildings programme Phase 1. Since February they have been signposted through Phase 2. The change is the result of high demand for grants from householders. In October 2006, we re-allocated funds from within the programme to increase funds available to householders from £6.5 million to £12.7 million. To facilitate that increase in householder funding, we also took the decision to move the majority of small scale community projects to Phase 2 of the Low Carbon Buildings programme from February 2007.
	Phase 2, with a £50 million budget announced in Budget 2006, supports projects in the public and not for profit sectors with the specific aim of driving down the cost of microgeneration technologies. Phase 2 has a significant budget, which should continue to provide excellent support to small scale community projects. The plan is to commit the majority of the budget between now and March 2008, however, some projects are likely to complete over the following years.
	Small scale community projects can also continue to apply to Phase 1 Stream 2 through to March 2009, although this is a competitive process more geared to larger projects.

Electricity Generation

John Cummings: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of energy was produced by  (a) coal fired,  (b) gas fired and  (c) nuclear power stations in each of the last five years.

Malcolm Wicks: Fuel used in power stations as a percentage of total primary energy demand on a fuel input basis is as follows:
	
		
			  Percentage 
			   Coal  Natural gas  Nuclear stations 
			 2001 12.8 10.9 8.7 
			 2002 12.3 11.7 8.6 
			 2003 13.3 11.4 8.5 
			 2004 12.8 11.9 7.6 
			 2005 13.2 11.6 7.7 
			  Source: Digest of UK Energy Statistics 2006, tables 1.1-1.3 and table 5.6 
		
	
	Electricity supplied by fuel source as a percentage of total electricity supplied(1) on an output basis is as follows:
	
		
			  Percentage 
			   Coal  Natural gas  Nuclear stations 
			 2001 34.1 37.8 22.6 
			 2002 32.0 40.2 21.9 
			 2003 34.7 38.2 21.6 
			 2004 33.2 40.7 19.5 
			 2005 33.6 39.1 19.6 
			 (1) Includes pumped storage  Source: Digest of UK Energy Statistics 2006, table 5.6

Electricity: Meters

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps Ofgem are taking to ensure consistent consumer protection is afforded to electricity token meter users; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: Ofgem, which is responsible for regulating gas and electricity supply, has been in detailed discussion with suppliers about the recalibration of certain prepayment meters. Following these discussions, suppliers gave a series of commitments to improve their performance. Details of these commitments were published in Ofgem's recent statement of good practice on token prepayment meters and debt (available from Ofgem's website www.ofgem.gov.uk.) Ofgem will monitor suppliers' progress and will consider if further consumer protection is required.

Electricity: Meters

Janet Dean: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps Ofgem have taken to ensure that the token prepayment meter users of all electricity suppliers receive equivalent protection from the practice of backcharging; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: Ofgem, which is responsible for regulating gas and electricity supply, has been in detailed discussion with suppliers about the recalibration of certain prepayment meters. Following these discussions, suppliers gave a series of commitments to improve their performance. The commitments vary from each supplier, depending on current practice and performance. Details of these commitments were published in Ofgem's recent statement of good practice on token prepayment meters and debt (available from Ofgem's website www.ofgem.gov.uk). Ofgem will monitor suppliers' progress and will consider whether further consumer protection is required.

Electronic Equipment: Waste Disposal

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the proportion of goods subject to the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations which are labelled as required by the regulations; and what he estimates to be the cost to producers of meeting such requirements.

Malcolm Wicks: The marking requirements of Regulation 15 and 16 of the WEEE Regulations do not come into force until 1 April 2007. Information on the costs of marking electrical and electronic equipment is contained in the final Regulatory Impact Assessment which accompanied the WEEE Regulations, when they were laid before the House on 12 December 2006.

Energy: Fees and Charges

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent discussions he has had with Oftel on the introduction of charges for customers who do not pay their bills by direct debit; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 19 February 2007
	The matter raised is the responsibility of the independent regulator, the Office of Communications (Ofcom), which is accountable to Parliament rather than Ministers. Accordingly, I have asked the Chief Executive of Ofcom to reply directly to the hon. Member. Copies of the Chief Executive's letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Hazardous Substances: EC Law

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many companies manufacturing optoelectronic components responded to the consultation on the exemption of substances from the Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: In response to the European Commission's most recent consultation (closed 10 January 2007), I understand that two companies which manufacture opto-electronic components have responded to the request to exempt "Cadmium in opto-electronic components" from the requirements of the Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive.
	The European Commission has not yet put forward proposals to member states as to whether this exemption request will be granted or not.

Hazardous Substances: EC Law

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the total value is of optoelectronic equipment containing cadmium manufactured in the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: This question cannot be answered as the DTI does not hold this information.

Hazardous Substances: EC Law

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what consideration he has given to exempting equipment used for live performances from the Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: Any manufacturer or producer of electrical and electronic equipment that cannot comply with the requirements of the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Directive due to technical or scientific barriers, or where the benefits of RoHS compliant alternatives are likely to be outweighed by a greater negative impact on the environment, health and/or consumer safety, can submit an application for exemption to the European Commission for consideration.
	Under Article 5(1) of the Directive, a Technical Adaptation Committee (comprised of all EU member states and chaired by the European Commission), can approve such exemptions requests if they are found to be justified.
	As far as I am aware, the European Commission has not received such a broad request exempting the general use of equipment for live performances.

Natural Gas: Imports

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what changes in capacity for importing gas he expects to come onstream in 2007.

Malcolm Wicks: Until this winter Great Britain was able to import gas by pipe-line from Norway and Belgium, and as liquefied natural gas (LNG) through the Isle of Grain LNG import terminal. During the first half of this winter our gas import capacity increased by approximately 131 million cubic metres per day (mcm/d) through a combination of a new interconnector with the Netherlands (Balgzand Bacton Line (BBL)), an expansion of the Belgian interconnector (IUK) and a major new pipeline from Norway (Langeled). The Teesside GasPort LNG import facility, with a capacity of 11 mcm/d, commissioned last month.
	Further gas import projects under development include two LNG terminals at Milford Haven. These are expected to commission in late 2007 or early 2008, and will initially have a combined maximum import capacity of 57mcm/d.
	Use of gas import facilities will depend on commercial conditions, including the level of wholesale gas prices in Great Britain compared with prices in alternative markets.

Post Office Card Account

Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what meetings he and his Department's officials have had with the banking sector on a successor to the Post Office Card Account.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Ministers have not met with the banking sector to discuss the replacement card account. The tendering and contractual process for the replacement product are matters for DWP.

Renewable Energy

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what  (a) proportion and  (b) wattage of total electricity production in the UK was produced from (i) hydropower, (ii) wind, (iii) biomass, (iv) solar and (v) geothermal in  (A) 1996,  (B) 2001 and  (C) 2006; and what his estimate is of the likely production from each of those sources in 2011.

Malcolm Wicks: The latest available information is shown in the following table. Data for 2006 will not be available until the summer of 2007. There is no significant generation using geothermal sources. The contribution of the individual technologies to the projected total generation from renewables is for the market to determine.
	
		
			   1996  2001  2005  2010 projection 
			   GWh  Percentage  GWh  Percentage  GWh  Percentage  GWh  Percentage 
			 Hydro(1) 3,392 1.0 4,056 1.1 4,961 1.2 — — 
			 Wind(2) 488 0.1 965 0.3 2,908 0.7 — — 
			 Solar photovoltaics — — 2 — 8 — — — 
			 Biofuels(3) 1,805 0.5 4,526 1.2 9,042 2.3 — — 
			 Total generation from renewables 5,685 1.6 9,549 2.5 16,919 4.2 33,300 8.3 
			 Total UK Electricity generation 350,867 100 384,786 100 400,525 100 400,000 100 
			 (1) Excludes electricity from pumped storage stations. (2) In 2005 includes electricity from shoreline wave but this amounts to less than 0.05 GWh. (3) Biofuel sources include landfill gas, sewage sludge digestion, the biodegradable part of municipal solid waste, biomass co-fired with fossil fuels, farm waste digestion, poultry litter combustion, meat and bone combustion, straw and energy crops.  Sources:  Digest of United Kingdom Energy Statistics 2006, Table 7.4, and Joint Energy Security of Supply Working Group (JESS) Seventh Report, December 2006

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Criminal Proceedings

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what assessment she has made of the benefits of allowing relatives of victims to make statements at criminal trials following the recent pilot schemes.

Harriet Harman: The Victims' Advocates is being piloted in five crown courts and provides bereaved families in murder and manslaughter cases with the choice to tell the court about the impact of the crime on them. The pilot is being independently evaluated with the final report due in the autumn.

Criminal Proceedings

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what assessment she has made of the effect of relatives of victims making statements at criminal trials on juries and their ability to determine the facts of cases.

Harriet Harman: The Victims' Advocates pilot scheme provides bereaved relatives of murder and manslaughter victims with the choice to make a statement about the effect of the crime on their family. The statement is delivered to the court after conviction but before sentence and therefore does not impact on the role and decisions of the jury.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs when she will reply to the letter of 25 January from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Miss V. Howell.

Harriet Harman: My Right hon. Friend the Lord Chancellor responded to the right hon. Member's letter on 12 March. I apologise for the delay.

Powers of Attorney

Susan Kramer: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs on how many occasions the Court of Protection intervened to suspend an individual's power of attorney over another in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Harriet Harman: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 23 February 2007,  Official Report, column 969W.

Voting Rights

Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs under what circumstances a Commonwealth citizen is eligible to vote in the UK.

Bridget Prentice: Under the Representation of the People Act 1983, qualifying Commonwealth citizens are eligible to vote in UK elections. This means that Commonwealth citizens who have the right of abode or leave to enter or remain in the UK, and are otherwise eligible to vote, may register to vote.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

Training: Treasury

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster which training courses her Department or its agencies have offered to Treasury Ministers in the last 12 months; and how many such training courses were attended by Treasury Ministers.

Hilary Armstrong: The Government take the issue of ministerial training very seriously. I and other ministerial colleagues are working closely with the National School of Government (NSG) to further develop ministerial training. The NSG is a non-ministerial department and is the centre of excellence for learning and development in support of the strategic business priorities of government. I have asked the National School's Principal and Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member giving further details on this issue. A copy of his reply will be placed in the Library for the reference of Members.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Police: Community Support

Andrew MacKay: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made in ensuring that people from all communities in Northern Ireland support the police.

Peter Hain: Unprecedented progress has been made following Sinn Fein's historic decision to support policing, the courts, the rule of law and their subsequent steps to deliver this.

Police Community Support Officers

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the vetting procedures for the new police community support officers.

Paul Goggins: The same stringent vetting standards will apply to PCSOs as to regular officers. The regulations will cover both criminal convictions and business interests identical to those which apply to police officers.

Devolution

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made towards the restoration of the devolved Assembly in Northern Ireland.

Peter Hain: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier to the hon. Member for Belfast, North (Mr. Dodds).

Autism Legislation

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what consideration has been given to introducing autism legislation applying to Northern Ireland.

Paul Goggins: There are no immediate plans to introduce legislation specifically in respect of autism. The Bamford team's review of legislation, which will cover learning disabilities such as autism, is due to report this summer.

Policing

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether it is the Government's policy to distinguish between civic and political policing in Northern Ireland.

Paul Goggins: The Government's policy is to deliver effective, impartial and accountable policing, supported by the entire community in Northern Ireland.

Bain Review

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the Bain Review of education.

Maria Eagle: The Bain Review represents an important step in improving education in Northern Ireland. The report includes recommendations for making better use of resources, improved planning of schools, and improved sharing and collaboration across schools, and highlights the educational, economic and social benefits which changes will bring. The Government have accepted all the report's recommendations.

Historical Enquiries Team

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will increase the funding and other resources available to the Historical Enquiries Team.

Paul Goggins: The Historic Enquires Team project has been allocated £34 million over six years, this is a significant sum. Estimated expenditure to 31 March 2007 is £10.5 million. This project involves the PSNI, Police Ombudsman, Forensic Science Agency and PPS. Government are committed to ensuring that this work is adequately resourced.

Political Parties: Rule of Law

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made in securing commitments from all political parties in Northern Ireland to supporting  (a) the police,  (b) the courts and  (c) the rule of law.

David Hanson: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given earlier to the right hon. Member for Bracknell (Mr. Mackay).

Police Ombudsman

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what response he has made to the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland's recent report.

Paul Goggins: The Government acknowledge that the Police Ombudsman's investigation has succeeded in bringing to light serious failings of duty by a small number of police officers over the period 1991 to 2003. The Chief Constable has accepted the report's recommendations and work on reinvestigating the cases has already begun. Where sufficient evidence can be obtained, prosecutions will be brought.

Legal Firearms

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many legal firearms there were in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years.

Paul Goggins: The Chief Constable has provided the following table showing the number of legal firearms in Northern Ireland at 31 March in each of the years requested.
	
		
			  Number of firearms held on firearm certificates 
			   Total 
			 31 March 2003 142,757 
			 31 March 2004 144,647 
			 31 March 2005 144,554 
			 31 March 2006 138,302 
			 7 March 2007 136,896

Computers: Theft

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer of 6 February 2007,  Official Report, columns 556-57W, on departmental computers, whether any of the computers and laptops stolen contained information  (a) which could have compromised the safety of individuals or the general public and  (b) about the names, addresses and other personal data relating to individuals; and if he will make a statement.

David Hanson: Of the 55 laptops lost or stolen from Northern Ireland Departments in the nine-year period ending in February 2007, it is possible that one owned by the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety may have contained documents which included names and addresses relating to dental referral cases.
	None of the laptops in question contained information which could have compromised the safety of individuals or the general public.

English Language

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much was spent by the Department for Education on the teaching of English as an additional language in each of the last five years.

Maria Eagle: The Department of Education has provided earmarked funding for the provision of teaching and teaching support for English as an additional language (EAL), through the Education and Library Boards in each financial year as follows:
	
		
			   £ 
			 2002-03 200,000 
			 2003-04 400,000 
			 2004-05 410,000 
			 2005-06 570,000 
			 2006-07 834,000 
		
	
	Since 2005-06 funding, additional to that provided through the boards, has been given direct to schools through the common funding formula, for those schools that have identified EAL pupils who require extra support. Funding for the schools by financial year was:
	
		
			   £ 
			 2005-06 1,687,000 
			 2006-07 2,537,000

English Language

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the Department for Education's most recent estimate is of the number of  (a) primary and  (b) post-primary pupils in schools in Northern Ireland who are learning English as an additional language.

Maria Eagle: In 2006-07 there are 2,425 children in primary schools (Year one-seven classes) and 1,148 children in post-primary schools who are recorded as having English as an additional language. The numbers refer to children who have significant difficulties with the English language and require additional support.

Ethnic Groups

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what his Department's most recent estimate is of  (a) the number of people from minority ethnic communities who live in Northern Ireland and  (b) the proportion of the total population of Northern Ireland represented by people from those communities.

David Hanson: A total of 14,279 people (0.85 per cent. of all people usually resident in Northern Ireland) indicated through the 2001 Census that they belonged to a minority ethnic group.

Nurses

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many nursing vacancies there were in each health trust area in Northern Ireland in each of the last three years; and what the average length of time taken was to fill nursing vacancies in each health trust area in Northern Ireland over the same period.

Paul Goggins: Information on the number of current nursing vacancies in each Health Trust area in Northern Ireland in each of the last three years is presented in the following tables.
	Information on the average length of time taken to fill nursing vacancies in each Health Trust area is not available; however the number of long-term vacancies for nursing staff (i.e. vacancies which remain vacant after three months) is given as an indication of those that were particularly difficult to fill.
	The number of current qualified nursing staff vacancies has decreased from a headcount of 746 (678.45 WTE) in June 2004 to 583 (523.80 WTE) in September 2006 (although the September 2006 figure shows an increase from September 2005). The number of long-term qualified nursing staff vacancies also decreased from a headcount of 252 (232.41 WTE) in June 2004 to 203 (171.45 WTE) in September 2006.
	The number of current nurse support staff vacancies has increased from a headcount of 105 (94.77 WTE) in June 2004 to 139 (119.67 WTE) in September 2006. The number of long-term nurse support staff vacancies also increased from a headcount of 22 (19.05 WTE) in June 2004 to 70 (60.41 WTE) in September 2006.
	
		
			  Number of current vacancies for nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff in each Health Trust as at 30 June 2004 
			   Qualified nursing staff( 1)  Nurse support staff 
			  Trust  Headcount  WTE( 2)  Headcount  WTE( 2) 
			 Altnagelvin Group HSS Trust 64 63.72 5 5.00 
			 Armagh and Dungannon HSS Trust 9 7.34 1 1.00 
			 Belfast City Hospital HSS Trust 73 71.32 5 4.80 
			 Causeway HSS Trust 8 7.11 0 0.00 
			 Craigavon and Banbridge Community HSS Trust 13 11.00 0 0.00 
			 Craigavon Area Hospital Group HSS Trust 9 7.68 0 0.00 
			 Down Lisburn HSS Trust 22 21.30 0 0.00 
			 Foyle Community HSS Trust 8 8.00 0 0.00 
			 Green Park Healthcare HSS Trust 40 39.60 5 4.68 
			 Homefirst Community HSS Trust 20 n/a 4 n/a 
			 Mater Infirmorum Hospital HSS Trust 102 100.00 9 8.40 
			 Newry and Mourne HSS Trust 13 13.00 0 0.00 
			 North and West Belfast HSS Trust 17 11.20 4 2.20 
			 Royal Group of Hospitals HSS Trust 186 161.72 33 30.11 
			 South and East Belfast HSS Trust 69 68.54 17 16.78 
			 Sperrin/Lakeland HSS Trust 24 24.00 4 4.00 
			 Ulster Community and Hospitals Group HSS Trust 38 32.42 10 9.80 
			 United Hospitals Group HSS Trust 30 30.00 8 8.00 
			 Other Agencies and Board Headquarters 1 0.50 0 0.00 
			 Total 746 678.45 105 94.77 
			 (1 )Qualified nursing staff include midwives, health visitors and district nurses. (2 )Whole-time equivalent.  Note: A current vacancy is defined as an unoccupied post which the organisation was actively trying to fill.  Source: NI HPSS Trusts & Organisations 
		
	
	
		
			  Number of long-term vacancies for nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff in each Health Trust as at 30 June 2004 
			   Qualified nursing staff( 1)  Nurse support staff 
			  Trust  Headcount  WTE( 2)  Headcount  WTE( 2) 
			 Altnagelvin Group HSS Trust 38 37.31 2 2.00 
			 Armagh and Dungannon HSS Trust 1 1.00 0 0.00 
			 Belfast City Hospital HSS Trust 16 15.26 0 0.00 
			 Causeway HSS Trust 1 1.00 0 0.00 
			 Craigavon and Banbridge Community HSS Trust 0 0.00 0 0.00 
			 Craigavon Area Hospital Group HSS Trust 4 4.00 0 0.00 
			 Down Lisburn HSS Trust 14 14.00 0 0.00 
			 Foyle Community HSS Trust 6 6.00 0 0.00 
			 Green Park Healthcare HSS Trust 1 1.00 2 1.68 
			 Homefirst Community HSS Trust 0 0.00 0 0.00 
			 Mater Infirmorum Hospital HSS Trust 22 21.60 7 6.17 
			 Newry and Mourne HSS Trust 13 13.00 0 0.00 
			 North and West Belfast HSS Trust 16 10.70 4 2.20 
			 Royal Group of Hospitals HSS Trust 77 64.54 0 0.00 
			 South and East Belfast HSS Trust 21 21.00 5 5.00 
			 Sperrin/Lakeland HSS Trust 0 0.00 0 0.00 
			 Ulster Community and Hospitals Group HSS Trust 14 14.00 2 2.00 
			 United Hospitals Group HSS Trust 8 8.00 0 0.00 
			 Other Agencies and Board Headquarters 0 0.00 0 0.00 
			 Total 252 232.41 22 19.05 
			 (1 )Qualified nursing staff include midwives, health visitors and district nurses. (2 )Whole-time equivalent.  Note: A long-term vacancy is defined as an unoccupied post which had been vacant for three months or more and which the organisation was actively trying to fill. Long-term vacancies are a sub-set of current vacancies.  Source: NI HPSS Trusts & Organisations 
		
	
	
		
			  Number of current vacancies for nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff in each Health Trust as at 30 September 2005 
			   Qualified nursing staff( 1)  Nurse support staff 
			  Trust  Headcount  WTE( 2)  Headcount  WTE( 2) 
			 Altnagelvin Group HSS Trust 14 13.84 8 8.00 
			 Armagh and Dungannon HSS Trust 6 4.54 0 0.00 
			 Belfast City Hospital HSS Trust 47 46.80 14 11.72 
			 Causeway HSS Trust 14 13.50 1 1.00 
			 Craigavon and Banbridge Community HSS Trust 1 0.47 0 0.00 
			 Craigavon Area Hospital Group HSS Trust 20 15.69 8 6.05 
			 Down Lisburn HSS Trust 22 21.42 1 1.00 
			 Foyle Community HSS Trust 12 11.10 1 0.50 
			 Green Park Healthcare HSS Trust 35 30.02 3 3.00 
			 Homefirst Community HSS Trust 22 21.00 12 12.00 
			 Mater Infirmorum Hospital HSS Trust 36 31.79 14 9.51 
			 Newry and Mourne HSS Trust 3 2.15 0 0.00 
			 North and West Belfast HSS Trust 28 23.65 21 18.58 
			 Royal Group of Hospitals HSS Trust 156 136.26 45 36.00 
			 South and East Belfast HSS Trust 16 16.00 0 0.00 
			 Sperrin/Lakeland HSS Trust 18 17.00 8 8.00 
			 Ulster Community and Hospitals Group HSS Trust 22 20.89 6 6.00 
			 United Hospitals Group HSS Trust 12 11.60 5 4.45 
			 Other Agencies and Board Headquarters 1 1.00 0 0.00 
			 Total 485 438.72 147 125.81 
			 (1 )Qualified nursing staff include midwives, health visitors and district nurses. (2 )Whole-time equivalent.  Note: A current vacancy is defined as an unoccupied post which the organisation was actively trying to fill.  Source: NI HPSS Trusts & Organisations 
		
	
	
		
			  Number of long-term vacancies for nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff in each Health Trust as at 30 September 2005 
			   Qualified nursing staff( 1)  Nurse support staff 
			  Trust  Headcount  WTE( 2)  Headcount  WTE( 2) 
			 Altnagelvin Group HSS Trust 10 9.80 3 3.00 
			 Armagh and Dungannon HSS Trust 0 0.00 0 0.00 
			 Belfast City Hospital HSS Trust 17 16.80 9 6.59 
			 Causeway HSS Trust 1 1.00 0 0.00 
			 Craigavon and Banbridge Community HSS Trust 0 0.00 0 0.00 
			 Craigavon Area Hospital Group HSS Trust 5 3.70 0 0.00 
			 Down Lisburn HSS Trust 3 3.00 0 0.00 
			 Foyle Community HSS Trust 0 0.00 0 0.00 
			 Green Park Healthcare HSS Trust 26 21.02 3 3.00 
			 Homefirst Community HSS Trust 6 6.00 0 0.00 
			 Mater Infirmorum Hospital HSS Trust 33 28.79 13 8.51 
			 Newry and Mourne HSS Trust 0 0.00 0 0.00 
			 North and West Belfast HSS Trust 16 12.65 6 3.58 
			 Royal Group of Hospitals HSS Trust 4 4.00 0 0.00 
			 South and East Belfast HSS Trust 0 0.00 0 0.00 
			 Sperrin/Lakeland HSS Trust 0 0.00 0 0.00 
			 Ulster Community and Hospitals Group HSS Trust 5 4.47 2 2.00 
			 United Hospitals Group HSS Trust 0 0.00 0 0.00 
			 Other Agencies and Board Headquarters 0 0.00 0 0.00 
			 Total 126 111.23 36 26.68 
			 (1 )Qualified nursing staff include midwives, health visitors and district nurses. (2 )Whole-time equivalent.  Note: A long-term vacancy is defined as an unoccupied post which had been vacant for three months or more and which the organisation was actively trying to fill. Long-term vacancies are a sub-set of current vacancies.  Source: NI HPSS Trusts & Organisations 
		
	
	
		
			  Number of current vacancies for nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff in each Health Trust as at 30 September 2006 
			   Qualified nursing staff( 1)  Nurse support staff 
			  Trust  Headcount  WTE( 2)  Headcount  WTE( 2) 
			 Altnagelvin Group HSS Trust 36 33.80 6 5.50 
			 Armagh and Dungannon HSS Trust 5 4.80 0 0.00 
			 Belfast City Hospital HSS Trust 19 18.52 12 12.00 
			 Causeway HSS Trust 41 39.50 5 4.00 
			 Craigavon and Banbridge Community HSS Trust 11 9.54 6 5.40 
			 Craigavon Area Hospital Group HSS Trust 29 24.50 9 7.22 
			 Down Lisburn HSS Trust 7 6.56 2 1.00 
			 Foyle Community HSS Trust 8 3.55 7 5.54 
			 Green Park Healthcare HSS Trust 79 63.37 18 16.91 
			 Homefirst Community HSS Trust 42 34.98 14 9.73 
			 Mater Infirmorum Hospital HSS Trust 42 34.40 20 15.95 
			 Newry and Mourne HSS Trust 3 3.00 0 0.00 
			 North and West Belfast HSS Trust 31 27.39 18 16.23 
			 Royal Group of Hospitals HSS Trust 49 44.27 5 4.53 
			 South and East Belfast HSS Trust 103 99.50 0 0.00 
			 Sperrin/Lakeland HSS Trust 40 40.00 3 2.06 
			 Ulster Community and Hospitals Group HSS Trust 32 30.12 8 7.60 
			 United Hospitals Group HSS Trust 6 6.00 6 6.00 
			 Other Agencies and Board Headquarters 0 0.00 0 0.00 
			 Total 583 523.80 139 119.67 
			 (1 )Qualified nursing staff include midwives, health visitors and district nurses. (2 )Whole-time equivalent.  Note: A current vacancy is defined as an unoccupied post which the organisation was actively trying to fill.  Source: NI HPSS Trusts & Organisations 
		
	
	
		
			  Number of long-term vacancies for nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff in each Health Trust as at 30 September 2006 
			   Qualified nursing staff( 1)  Nurse support staff 
			  Trust  Headcount  WTE( 2)  Headcount  WTE( 2) 
			 Altnagelvin Group HSS Trust 13 12.86 0 0.00 
			 Armagh and Dungannon HSS Trust 4 3.80 0 0.00 
			 Belfast City Hospital HSS Trust 10 9.52 8 8.00 
			 Causeway HSS Trust 0 0.00 0 0.00 
			 Craigavon and Banbridge Community HSS Trust 0 0.00 0 0.00 
			 Craigavon Area Hospital Group HSS Trust 4 3.06 2 1.60 
			 Down Lisburn HSS Trust 3 2.56 0 0.00 
			 Foyle Community HSS Trust 1 1.00 0 0.00 
			 Green Park Healthcare HSS Trust 44 32.00 3 3.00 
			 Homefirst Community HSS Trust 26 21.30 14 9.73 
			 Mater Infirmorum Hospital HSS Trust 37 29.40 20 15.95 
			 Newry and Mourne HSS Trust 0 0.00 0 0.00 
			 North and West Belfast HSS Trust 21 18.86 13 12.53 
			 Royal Group of Hospitals HSS Trust 24 22.47 2 2.00 
			 South and East Belfast HSS Trust 0 0.00 0 0.00 
			 Sperrin/Lakeland HSS Trust 0 0.00 0 0.00 
			 Ulster Community and Hospitals Group HSS Trust 13 11.62 8 7.60 
			 United Hospitals Group HSS Trust 3 3.00 0 0.00 
			 Other Agencies and Board Headquarters 0 0.00 0 0.00 
			 Total 203 171.45 70 60.41 
			 (1 )Qualified nursing staff include midwives, health visitors and district nurses. (2 )Whole-time equivalent.  Note: A long-term vacancy is defined as an unoccupied post which had been vacant for three months or more and which the organisation was actively trying to fill. Long-term vacancies are a sub-set of current vacancies.  Source: NI HPSS Trusts & Organisations

Pupils

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many schools in each education and library board area in Northern Ireland were  (a) undersubscribed and  (b) oversubscribed in each of the last three years.

Maria Eagle: The information requested is shown in the following table.
	
		
			   2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			  ELB  Oversubscribed  Under-subscribed  Oversubscribed  Under-subscribed  Oversubscribed  Under-subscribed 
			 BELB 28 98 24 100 25 98 
			 WELB 37 191 34 195 34 191 
			 NEELB 32 199 33 210 31 213 
			 SEELB 24 156 20 160 24 162 
			 SELB 29 238 32 235 50 201 
			 Total 150 882 143 900 164 865 
		
	
	The information provided relates to all under-subscribed and over-subscribed primary and post primary schools in Northern Ireland.
	In order to determine over or under-subscription, the total number of year 1 or year 8 applications to each school has been compared with the approved admissions number.

Pupils: Per Capita Costs

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what average funding per pupil was allocated to each education and library board area in each of the last six years.

Maria Eagle: The following table sets out the average funding per pupil delegated to schools in each education and library board area under local management of schools arrangements in each of the last six years. Further funding is allocated directly to education and library boards for a wide range of services, some which benefit all pupils while others are more specifically targeted. Accordingly it is not possible to present that funding accurately on a per-pupil basis.
	
		
			  £ 
			  Education and Library Board area  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05 ( 1) 2005-06 ( 1) 2006-07 
			 Belfast 2,319 2,430 2,677 2,749 3,034 3,233 
			 North-Eastern 2,171 2,227 2,482 2,584 2,862 3,052 
			 South -Eastern 2,120 2,234 2,441 2,541 2,771 2,947 
			 Southern 2,214 2,277 2,524 2,617 2,889 3,083 
			 Western 2,248 2,352 2,605 2,707 2,988 3,182 
			 (1 )Funding in 2005-06 and 2006-07 was distributed using the common funding formula. Prior to then, each funding authority used its own formula to determine allocations to schools.

Pupils: Racial Harassment

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the progress made by the Government since the publication of its Race Equality Strategy for Northern Ireland in determining the scale and nature of racist bullying in schools in Northern Ireland.

Maria Eagle: In 1999 the Department commissioned research into the nature and scale of bullying in Northern Ireland schools. The report was published in October 2002. The report recommended that managers and teachers should monitor the incidences of ethnic and religion-based bullying and this area should explicitly be included within school policies. The research is available on the Department's website at www.deni.gov.uk/rb8_2002.pdf I have also arranged for a copy to be placed in the Library.
	Following on from this research, in 2005 the Department commissioned the university of Ulster to undertake a further study into the extent and nature of bullying, including racist bullying, in Northern Ireland schools. The report will be published later this year. That will allow for a comparison with the report published in 2002 and the identification of any change.

Schools: Arson

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many fires occurred in schools in each education and library board area in Northern Ireland in each of the last six years; how many were started deliberately; and what the cost of repairs for fire damage to these schools over the same period.

Maria Eagle: Information on fires in schools by education and library board area is available for the years 2002-03 to date:
	
		
			  Board area  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006 February 2007 
			 Belfast 13 14 10 8 6 
			 North Eastern 6 3 5 5 11 
			 South Eastern 13 5 12 3 3 
			 Western 6 8 4 5 4 
			 Southern 8 5 8 10 4 
			 Total 46 35 39 31 28 
			 Of which:  
			 Started deliberately 32 22 20 22 21 
		
	
	Information on the costs of the damage is not readily available. This information has been requested from the education and library boards and I will provide this to the hon. Lady in writing as soon as possible.

Schools: Fire Prevention

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many schools in each education and library board area in Northern Ireland are equipped with sprinkler systems.

Maria Eagle: All schools in Northern Ireland must comply with the fire regulations. There is no requirement to provide sprinkler systems. I understand that at the current time, there are no schools that have sprinkler systems installed.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Businesses: Orders and Regulations

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his most recent estimate is of the  (a) one-off cost and  (b) recurring costs of implementing the Occupational Pensions Schemes (Winding Up , Deficiency on Winding Up and Transfer Values) (Amendment) Regulations 2005 to (i) businesses and (ii) the regulators.

James Purnell: The Occupational Pension Schemes (Winding Up, Deficiency on Winding Up and Transfer Values) (Amendment) Regulations 2005 were accompanied by a regulatory impact assessment (RIA), a copy of which is available in the Library. The RIA included an assessment of the impact of the regulations on business. The cost to the relevant pensions regulatory authority of implementing the regulations, if any, is not separately identifiable.

Businesses: Orders and Regulations

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his most recent estimate is of the  (a) one-off cost and  (b) recurring cost of implementing the Occupational Pensions Schemes (Winding Up and Deficiency on Winding Up etc) (Amendment) Regulations 2004 to (i) businesses and (ii) the regulators.

James Purnell: The Occupational Pension Schemes (Winding Up and Deficiency on Winding Up etc) (Amendment) Regulations 2004 were accompanied by a regulatory impact assessment (RIA), copies of which are available in the Library. The RIA included an assessment of the impact of the regulations on business. The cost to the Occupational Pensions Regulatory Authority (Opra) of implementing the regulations, if any, is not separately identifiable.

Carbon Monoxide: Poisoning

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will take steps to make carbon monoxide alarms available free of charge to pensioners.

Anne McGuire: holding answer 26 February 2007
	There are no proposals to make carbon monoxide (CO) alarms free of charge to pensioners.
	However, all Fire and Rescue Services in England have discretion to extend their Home Fire Risk Checks for vulnerable households to provide a free CO alarm, in addition to installation of a free smoke alarm. Similar arrangements are being considered in Wales.
	There are also other Government initiatives aimed at helping pensioners with gas and heating expenses. These include schemes such as WarmFront, Home Energy Efficiency and WarmDeal, which provide grants for the replacement or repair of heating systems to eligible people receiving certain benefits. In addition, the Priority Services Register enables pensioners to have a free annual gas safety check by their gas supplier.

Child Support Agency: Personnel

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many days training on average were provided to each member of staff at the Child Support Agency in each of the last five years.

James Plaskitt: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Stephen Geraghty dated 14 March 2007:
	In reply to your recent parliamentary quest6ion about the Child Support Agency the Secretary of state promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many days training on average have been provided to each member of staff at the Child Support Agency in each of the last five years.
	The information requested is provided in the attached table.
	
		
			   Average days training 
			 2001-02 9.3 
			 2002-03 10.7 
			 2003-04 6.5 
			 2004-05 6.8 
			 2005-06 5.3 
			 2006-07 (1)7.9 
			 (1) Final figures will be available after 31 March 2007.  Notes: 1. This information has been calculated by dividing the total number of days training provided by the Agency by the average number of people employed by the Agency over the relevant year, this includes those people who received no training in the relevant year. 2. The figures shown for the year 2006-07 are the result of a 12-month projection of training undertaken, based on the training undertaken between March 2006 and January 2007. 3. The decreases in recorded training days since 2003-04 is caused by a number of factors including a move towards blended learning and the use of e-learning with less emphasis on classroom training.

Children: Poverty

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department has taken to tackle child poverty in  (a) Eltham,  (b) the London borough of Greenwich and  (c) London.

Jim Murphy: Our child poverty strategy has achieved success nationally through making work pay and tax credits. Between 1998-99 and 2004-05, the number of children in relative low income fell by 700,000.
	We have introduced the city strategy, which should play a significant role in increasing local employment rates, ensuring those most disadvantaged in the labour market can receive the help and guidance they need, delivered flexibly on a joined up, local basis. Two of the initial 15 city strategy pathfinder areas are in London. The East and South East London pathfinder, covering the five host boroughs (including Greenwich) for the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics, has highlighted the level of child poverty in the area as one of its key challenges.
	The New Deal Plus for Lone Parents pilots started in April 2005 in five Jobcentre Plus districts, one of which includes Greenwich. We are testing a comprehensive package of measures based on New Deal for Lone Parents and an existing core set of pilots.

Departments: Energy

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what strategy he has put in place for  (a) the use of renewable energy and  (b) meeting energy targets in his Department's buildings; and if he will make a statement.

Anne McGuire: The Department works very closely with its Estate Partner, Land Securities Trillium to meet the targets for sustainable operations on the Government estate, which were published on 12 June 2006. A package of measures is in place to address the energy targets, including 'spend-to-save' investment in energy efficient equipment, new monitoring arrangements (which allow the identification, and subsequent rectification of anomalies in energy use) and an ongoing commitment to purchase off-site renewable energy. Regular meetings are held with sustainable development representatives from individual DWP businesses to identify potential efficiency measures and monitor progress. The Department is now assessing also the potential for on-site generation of renewable energy.
	The latest available figures for 2005-06 show the Department consumed 327,460,763 kWhs of electricity. Of this 175,174,178 kWhs were acquired from renewable sources—this accounts for 53.5 per cent. of the total electricity consumption.
	Information on the Department's performance on all sustainability targets can be found in the Department's annual sustainable development report and the sustainable development in Government report produced by the Sustainable Development Commission.

Departments: ICT

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much expenditure on information technology systems, hardware and software was written off by his Department in each of the last five years.

James Purnell: No expenditure on information technology systems hardware or software assets has been written off by the Department for Work and Pensions in the last five years.

Housing Benefit: Council Tax Benefits

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people were in receipt of  (a) housing benefit and  (b) council tax benefit in each year since 1990-91.

James Plaskitt: The available information is in the following table.
	
		
			  Housing benefit (HB) and community charge benefit (CCB)/council tax benefit (CTB) recipients in Great Britain, as at August each year 1990 to 2006 
			   HB  CCB/CTB 
			 1990 3,900,000 6,652,000 
			 1991 4,082,000 6,235,000 
			 1992 4,338,000 6,653,000 
			 1993 4,579,000 5,400,000 
			 1994 4,667,000 5,552,000 
			 1995 4,752,000 5,624,000 
			 1996 4,761,000 5,596,000 
			 1997 4,592,000 5,447,000 
			 1998 4,425,000 5,281,000 
			 1999 4,243,000 5,083,000 
			 2000 3,968,000 4,756,000 
			 2001 3,867,000 4,668,000 
			 2002 3,799,000 4,590,000 
			 2003 3,814,000 4,653,000 
			 2004 3,944,000 4,893,000 
			 2005 3,981,000 4,998,000 
			 2006 4,024,000 5,088,000 
			  Notes: 1. The data refer to benefit units, which may be a single person or a couple. 2. Figures are rounded to the nearest thousand. 3. Figures for any non-responding authorities have been estimated. 4. HB figures exclude any extended payment cases. 5. CTB replaced CCB in 1993 when council tax was introduced. 6. CCB/CTB figures exclude any Second Adult Rebate cases.  Source:  Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Management Information System Quarterly 100 per cent. caseload stock-count taken in August 1992 to August 2006. Social Security Statistics (SSS) 1993

Industrial Health and Safety: Aviation

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether UK airlines are required to abide by the Control of Substance Hazardous to Health Regulations when their aircraft are in flight.

Anne McGuire: The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (as amended) apply to aircraft in flight in airspace above Great Britain.

Industrial Injuries Benefits

Terry Rooney: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many claims were made for industrial injury benefit in each of the last 10 years; and of these how many were  (a) paid with another benefit and  (b) subject to clawback by the Compensation Recovery Unit.

Jim Murphy: holding answer 9 March 2007
	Information on how many claims for industrial injury benefit in each of the last 10 years were paid with another benefit is not available.
	The available information is in the following tables.
	
		
			  New industrial injury benefit claims( 1) 
			   Number (thousand) 
			 1996-97 78.5 
			 1997-98 93.7 
			 1998-99 73.2 
			 1999-2000 86.9 
			 2000-01 75.4 
			 2001-02 63.4 
			 2002-03 80.2 
			 2003-04 72.4 
			 2004-05 54.5 
			 2005-06(2) 49.0 
			 (1) Figures up to and including 2001-02 are based on a 10 per cent. sample. Figures from 2002-03 onwards are based on 100 per cent. data. Figures are for all industrial injuries benefit claims including reduced earning allowance, and include a small number of claims from people resident overseas. (2) Figures are provisional and subject to change.  Source: DWP Information Directorate 
		
	
	
		
			  Number of compensation claims received in compensation recovery unit, where there has been a recovery of industrial injuries disablement benefit 
			  Financial year of recovery  Number of claims 
			 2003-04 9,420 
			 2004-05 9,231 
			 2005-06 9,260 
			  Source: Compensation recovery unit management information statistics

Information Technology Projects

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what information technology projects have been  (a) cancelled and  (b) placed under review by his Department in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Anne McGuire: The Department undertakes a large number of projects which deliver business change and policy initiatives. IT changes are an enabling component of many projects. The number of projects in train at any one time will vary and the duration of the project lifecycle is often more than one calendar year. The following table includes only those projects that have been formally closed where the IT element is such that non-delivery of the IT would significantly damage the project's ability to deliver its intended results and the investment in the project has exceeded £1 million.
	
		
			  Project name  Contractors involved  Investment expenditure (£ million) 
			 Document management (closed 2006-07) None appointed at time of cancellation 1.4 
			 Retirement planner (closed 2004-05) Accenture as Solution Provider EDS as Solution Operator 11.2 
			 E-enabled retirement pension (closed 2006-07) EDS 1.8 
			 Benefits processing replacement programme (BPRP) (closed 2006-07) IBM: solution design services. PA Consulting: client side programme management and implementation support. (1)135 
			 (1 )Including future commitments. 
		
	
	The figure for BPRP is some £8 million less than that provided in the answer given on 6 February 2007,  Official Report, column 863W. An external audit is now expected to confirm total cost and forward commitments on BPRP of around £135 million.
	A significant amount of the investment in BPRP is of future value to the Department. We estimate that at least half of the sum invested (around £73 million) is of future value to the Department.
	The Department has a comprehensive monitoring system in place to ensure that projects and programmes continue to deliver value for money, make effective use of departmental resources and continue to meet departmental objectives throughout their development. As such all projects and programmes are subject to periodic comprehensive reviews.

Jobcentre Plus

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which Jobcentre Plus offices have had their hours of opening to the public reduced in  (a) the last (i) six months and (ii) 12 months and  (b) the last two years.

Jim Murphy: holding answer 23 November 2007
	The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. I have asked her to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Lesley Strathie, dated 14 March 2007:
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about how many Jobcentre Plus offices have had their hours of opening to the public reduced in the last (a) (i) six months and (ii) 12 months, and (b) the last two years. This is something, which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	A total of 96 Jobcentre Plus sites have had a reduction in opening hours in the two years to February 2007. This information is gathered at a Jobcentre Plus district level, and is set out in the attached table, a copy of which has been placed in the Library.
	I hope this is helpful.
	
		
			  ANNEX A: Jobcentre Plus—Offices operating reduced opening hours 
			  6 months  12 months  24 months 
			 Alton Abingdon Aldershot 
			 Beccles Aylesbury Andover 
			 Belper Banbury Ashford 
			 Bermondsey Blandford Axminster 
			 Harwich Bletchley Basingstoke 
			 Highfields Bracknell Bishops Stortford 
			 Lutterworth Brixham Bridport 
			 Mildenhall Chesham Brynmawr 
			 Penarth Didcot High Burnham on Sea Cefn 
			 Petersfield Downham Mawr 
			 Stowmarket Market Chard 
			 — Felixstowe Colchester 
			 — Helston Conwy 
			 — Hunstanton Cosham 
			 — Hyson Green Deal and Whitstable 
			 — Lampeter Denbigh 
			 — Leiston Dorchester Eastleigh 
			 — Llandeilo Exmouth 
			 — Llandyssul Fareham 
			 — Maidenhead Farnborough 
			 — Milton Gosport 
			 — Keynes Harehills Ryedale 
			 — Netherfield Havant 
			 — Newbury Hayle 
			 — Oxford Hucknall 
			 — Reading Ilfracombe 
			 — Shaftesbury Ledbury 
			 — Slough Llangollen 
			 — Witney Llanrwst 
			 — Woodbridge Looe 
			 — Wycombe Newbridge 
			 — — Newport 
			 — — North Ryde Petersfield 
			 — — Pontlottyn Portsmouth 
			 — — Central 
			 — — Portsmouth 
			 — — Prestatyn 
			 — — Richmond (Yorkshire) 
			 — — Risca 
			 — — St. Ives 
			 — — Saltash 
			 — — Shanklin 
			 — — Shaw 
			 — — Southampton B 
			 — — Southampton C 
			 — — Swaffham 
			 — — Tavistock Wadebridge 
			 — — Wareham 
			 — — Whitby 
			 — — Wimborne 
			 — — Winchester 
			 — — Woolston 
			 — — Ystrad Mynach 
			 11 29 57 
			  Note: Hertford (East of England) was operating reduced hours 12 months ago, but is now operating full-time hours.

National Insurance Numbers

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether national insurance numbers will be issued to  (a) non-working and  (b) self-employed migrants to the UK from (i) Bulgaria and (ii) Romania after their accession to the EU.

James Plaskitt: The allocation of a national insurance number (NINO) is dependent upon satisfying certain employment and benefit-related criteria. Individuals who are employed, self-employed, in receipt of benefit, or the partner of a benefit claimant can be eligible for a NINO.
	A non-working Bulgarian or Romanian national would be allocated with a NINO in order to apply for a benefit subject to satisfying the relevant benefit entitlement criteria and identity requirements. There are limited circumstances in which benefit entitlement would arise. For example a highly skilled migrant who holds an EEA registration certificate annotated to say that they have unrestricted access to the UK labour market and who meets the normal conditions of entitlement for income-based jobseeker's allowance would have benefit entitlement.
	A "right to work" condition was introduced into the NINO allocation and decision making process for employment-related applications. This was implemented in July 2006. Bulgarian and Romanian nationals who apply for a NINO for the purposes of self-employment will need to provide proof of their right to work in the UK, their self-employment status, and their identity before a NINO would be allocated.

Pathways Contractors

Janet Dean: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  whether he has plans to require private and voluntary sector Pathways contractors to reach targets in relation to certain disability groups;
	(2)  what steps he is taking to ensure that private and voluntary sector Pathways contractors are rewarded for outcomes in the form of claimants moving into  (a) part-time work,  (b) voluntary work and  (c) training.

Jim Murphy: Any successful bid for a Pathways to Work contract will need to address the needs of all customers, taking into account the range of different health conditions and disabilities, on a tailored and flexible basis. We have no plans to set Pathways to Work contractors targets for particular disability groups. The Pathways approach to employment support is designed to treat each customer as an individual rather than as a member of a particular group or sub-group. Targets based on condition would frustrate this approach and ignore the fact that customers often have multiple health problems and barriers to work.
	Pathways contracts are heavily outcome focused and will pay providers for job entries and for sustained employment. A job entry payment will be paid when a customer enters employment of at least eight hours a week. A sustained payment will be paid if, at the 26 week point, the customer is in employment of at least 16 hours a week and has been off benefit for at least 13 of the preceding 26 weeks.
	We accept that full-time employment may not be achievable in the short term for many of our customers, and that for some the move towards employment will be a long-term goal.

Pathways to Work

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people have been subject to mandatory work-focused interviews as part of the Pathways to Work pilots since their inception; and in how many cases such an interview has been waived in the case of people with  (a) certain infectious and parasitic diseases,  (b) neoplasms,  (c) diseases of the blood and blood forming organs and certain diseases involving the immune mechanism,  (d) endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases,  (e) mental and behavioural disorders,  (f) diseases of the nervous system,  (g) diseases of the eye and adnexa,  (h) diseases of the ear and mastoid process,  (i) diseases of the circulatory system,  (j) diseases of the respiratory system,  (k) factors influencing health status and contact with health services,  (l) diseases of the digestive system,  (m) diseases of the skin and subcutaneous system,  (n) diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue,  (o) diseases of the genitourinary system,  (p) pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium,  (q) certain conditions originating in the perinatal period,  (r) congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities,  (s) symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified and  (t) injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes.

Jim Murphy: 114,430 new incapacity benefit customers have been subject to mandatory work focused interviews as part of Pathways to Work. Of these, 9,050 had their initial work focused interviews waived.
	26,580 incapacity benefit customers who are part of the extension of Pathways to existing customers have been subject to mandatory work focused interviews. Of these, 7,580 have had their work focused interviews waived.
	The breakdown of waivers by condition type is in the following table:
	
		
			   Mandated new incapacity benefit customers  Mandatory extension to existing customers 
			 Certain Infectious and Parasitic Diseases 50 30 
			 Neoplasms 660 110 
			 Diseases of the blood 10 10 
			 Endocrine, Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases 60 110 
			 Mental and Behavioural Disorders 1,830 2,530 
			 Diseases of the Nervous System 290 320 
			 Diseases of the Eye and Adnexa 30 20 
			 Diseases of the Ear and Mastoid Process 10 30 
			 Diseases of the Circulatory System 340 430 
			 Diseases of the Respiratory System 140 190 
			 Diseases of the Digestive System 100 110 
			 Diseases of the Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue 30 30 
			 Diseases of the Musculoskeletal system and Connective Tissue 590 1,440 
			 Diseases of the Genitourinary System 60 50 
			 Pregnancy, Childbirth and the Puerperium 50 10 
			 Congenital Malformations and Deformations 10 0 
			 Symptoms, Signs and Abnormal Clinical and Laboratory findings 510 770 
			 Injury Poisoning and other consequences of external causes 260 280 
			 Hospital investigations, treatment, observation 100 60 
			 Radiotherapy, Chemotherapy (with cytotoxic drugs) 70 10 
			 Acquired absence of limb 10 10 
			 Not Yet Diagnosed 0 0 
			 Surgical Treatment 130 120 
			 Terminally ill 0 0 
			 Unknown 3,720 920 
			 Total 9,050 7,580 
			  Note: All figures have been rounded to the nearest 10.  Source: Pathways to Work Evaluation Database (data to the end of June 2006)

Pathways to Work

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what improvement in employment outcomes has taken place in the Pathways to Work pilot areas for  (a) all participants,  (b) participants over 50 years,  (c) participants whose first reason for claiming incapacity is mental ill-health and  (d) all participants with mental ill-health.

Jim Murphy: holding answer 30 November 2006
	Information is not available in the format requested. However, early findings from the independent research conducted by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (Early quantitative evidence on the impact of the Pathways to Work pilots, DWP Research Report No. 354), shows for all participants a 9.5 per cent. increase in the proportion of people who are employed 10 and a half months after claiming incapacity benefit. For participants over the age of 45, the increase in the proportion of people who are employed 10 and a half months after claiming incapacity benefit was 12 per cent.
	For participants whose health problem is a mental health condition, there has been no significant impact on the proportion of people who are employed 10 and a half months after claiming incapacity benefit.
	Our internal analysis has found that in terms of the net impact of Pathways to Work, those with a mental health or behavioural disorder have fared as well as other customers in terms of off-flows from benefit. One-to-one research with personal advisers and practitioners has found many examples of incapacity benefit customers helped by our Condition Management Pathways in Pathways areas.

Pensions: Overseas Residence

Natascha Engel: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the policy reasons are for the different rules which apply to providing index-linked pensions to British pensioners living in Canada and the United States.

James Purnell: The UK has a full reciprocal social security agreement with the United States covering a range of contributory social security benefits for people moving between the countries, including provision allowing annual UK state pension uprating increases to be paid.
	The arrangement with Canada is very limited in scope and does not allow annual UK state pension uprating increases. The arrangement, which was first entered into in 1959, helps only persons coming to the UK from Canada. For retirement pension purposes, it allows former residents of Canada to qualify for an enhanced amount of UK basic state pension by treating periods of residence in Canada as periods when UK national insurance contributions had been paid, provided the person has resided in the UK for 10 years following arrival or return here. There is no corresponding arrangement that would help a person going from the UK to Canada to qualify for either UK or Canadian benefits on taking up residence there.
	An agreement between the UK and the USA, which was concluded in 1969, allowed future annual uprating increases that became payable after its coming into force to be paid to UK pensioners living in the USA. Talks were subsequently held with Canada about a possible similar agreement. However, Canadian legislation prevented payment of Canadian old age security pension (COASP) under reciprocal agreements with other countries, ruling out the scope for reciprocity in the export of pensions. Although this legislation was amended in 1977 to allow COASP to be paid outside Canada, UK Ministers at that time decided, in line with the UK's general policy on frozen pensions, that insufficient resources were available for increasing the rates of UK pension payable in Canada. The arrangement between the UK and Canada was updated at the time, to reflect the developments in Canadian legislation, but the changes to it were limited to ensuring that there was no double concurrent provision of both countries' pensions for former Canadian residents living in the UK.

Pensions: Retail Sector

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the impact on the pension fund of an individual on median earnings saving in the proposed personal accounts aged  (a) 25,  (b) 35 and  (c) 45 in full-time employment contributing to an exempt employer scheme of a waiting period of (i) three months, (ii) six months, (iii) nine months and (iv) 12 months where the individual changes employer in line with the average frequency in (A) the retail sector and (B) the hospitality sector.

James Purnell: The information is not available in the form requested because the samples are too small to provide statistically reliable turnover rates for the two industries separately.
	The calculations in the following table are therefore based upon a turnover rate for the retail and hospitality sectors combined.
	
		
			  Fall in fund values for different waiting periods 
			   Reduction in expected value of fund for different waiting periods (%) 
			  Age in 2012  3 months  6 months  9 months  12 months 
			 25 7 13 21 27 
			 35 7 13 20 26 
			 45 7 13 20 27 
			  Notes: 1. The calculations assume that the individual has a series of jobs, each 44 months long, until state pension age. Small variations in the percentage by age depend upon the length of their last job, which affects the total percentage of their career spent waiting to enter a scheme. 2. Based on a turnover rate of 27 per cent. of individuals for the retail and hospitality sectors combined (Labour Force Survey 2005).

Roads: Safety

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent discussions he has had with the Audit Commission on the Commission's recent report, Changing Lanes, targeting employers in order to deliver road safety messages to those who drive at work.

Anne McGuire: I have not discussed 'Changing Lanes' with the Audit Commission. However, the Chair of the Health and Safety Commission has written to the chief executive of the Audit Commission to endorse the report's emphasis on education, training and publicity, and also to describe how the Health and Safety Executive has been working with the Department for Transport to raise awareness of employers' responsibility for work-related road safety.

Social Fund

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he plans to establish an online portal through which applications to the social fund could be made.

James Plaskitt: Although the Department for Work and Pensions is looking at ways of using the internet more in conducting its business, there are currently no plans in place to establish an online portal through which applications to the social fund could be made.

Social Security Benefits: Disabled People

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will take steps to improve access to existing benefits for disabled people by increasing the number of face-to-face assessments and home visits for initial applications; and if he will make a statement.

Anne McGuire: The Disability and Carers Service with Job Centre plus and the Pension Service is developing proposals to extend our provision for visiting disabled customers in their own homes and other places convenient for them. This will include among other things face to face assessments and help to complete application forms. We are conducting pilots to test the capacity of Pension Service staff to carry out all of the visits needed for attendance allowance and disability living allowance purposes. The Pension Service is also developing new and efficient methods of delivering face to face contact by working with its external partners.

State Retirement Pensions: Females

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate, for each financial year since 1978-79, the number of women who were born in 1945 and who in the year in question were recorded  (a) with a qualifying year for retirement pension on the basis of National Insurance contributions or credits and  (b) without a qualifying year, showing separately in each case (i) the number receiving Home Responsibility Protection and (ii) the number with a Class 1 reduced rate election.

James Purnell: holding answer 27 February 2007
	The information available is set out in the following table. The second column of the table shows the number of women born in 1945-46 who qualified for basic state pension through contributions and/or credits for each financial year from 1978-79 to 2003-04  (a). The third column shows the number of women born in 1945-46 who did not qualify for basic state pension through contributions and/or credits for each financial year from 1978-79 to 2003-04  (b). The fourth and fifth columns show the number of these women with Home Responsibilities Protection  (b)(i) and the number with a class 1 reduced rate election  (b)(ii), respectively, for each financial year.
	
		
			Not qualifying for basic state pension through contributions and/or credits 
			   Qualifying for basic state pension through contributions and/or credits (a)  All (b)  Number with Home Responsibilities Protection (b)(i)  Number with a class 1 reduced rate election (b)(ii) 
			 1978-79 80,000 240,000 90,000 110,000 
			 1979-80 90,000 240,000 100,000 100,000 
			 1980-81 100,000 230,000 110,000 80,000 
			 1981-82 110,000 220,000 130,000 70,000 
			 1982-83 120,000 220,000 130,000 60,000 
			 1983-84 130,000 210,000 130,000 60,000 
			 1984-85 130,000 200,000 130,000 50,000 
			 1985-86 150,000 180,000 110,000 50,000 
			 1986-87 160,000 170,000 100,000 40,000 
			 1987-88 170,000 160,000 90,000 40,000 
			 1988-89 180,000 150,000 80,000 40,000 
			 1989-90 200,000 130,000 70,000 40,000 
			 1990-91 210,000 120,000 60,000 30,000 
			 1991-92 210,000 110,000 50,000 30,000 
			 1992-93 220,000 100,000 50,000 30,000 
			 1993-94 230,000 100,000 40,000 20,000 
			 1994-95 230,000 90,000 30,000 20,000 
			 1995-96 230,000 80,000 30,000 20,000 
			 1996-97 250,000 70,000 20,000 20,000 
			 1997-98 240,000 60,000 20,000 20,000 
			 1998-99 240,000 60,000 10,000 10,000 
			 1999-2000 250,000 50,000 10,000 10,000 
			 2000-01 260,000 40,000 10,000 0 
			 2001-02 250,000 40,000 10,000 0 
			 2002-03 260,000 40,000 0 0 
			 2003-04 250,000 40,000 0 0 
			  Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10,000. 2. Figures refer to women living in the UK and overseas.  Source: Lifetime Labour Market Database 2, 2006 release.

State Retirement Pensions: Females

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many women reaching age 60 in 2005 are recorded as having at least one year of Home Responsibilities Protection which  (a) did not coincide with a year which qualified for a retirement pension on the basis of contributions or credits,  (b) did coincide with such a year and  (c) coincided with a year in which there was a Class 1 reduced rate National Insurance election.

James Purnell: holding answer 27 February 2007
	Of those women reaching age 60 in 2005-06:
	Around 180,000 are recorded as having at least one year of Home Responsibilities Protection which did not coincide with a year which qualified for basic state pension on the basis of contributions and/or credits.
	Around 430,000 women are recorded as having at least one year of Home Responsibilities Protection which did coincide with a year which qualified for basic state pension on the basis of contributions and/or credits.
	Finally, around 60,000 are recorded as having at least one year of Home Responsibilities Protection which coincided with a year in which there was a class 1 reduced rate national insurance election.
	As a result of these issues, the information used to answer this PQ only includes data up to and including the 2003-04 tax year.
	Additionally, the figures in the response are based on information available for women aged 58 in 2003-04, since these women are aged 60 in 2005-06. No allowance has been made for deaths between 2003-04 and 2005-06.
	Figures refer to women living in the UK as well as women living overseas.
	 Notes:
	1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10,000.
	2. Figures refer to women living in the UK and overseas.
	 Source:
	Lifetime Labour Market Database 2, 2006 release.

Widowed Parents Allowance

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people are in receipt of widowed parents allowance.

James Plaskitt: As at August 2006, the most recent year for which there is an available figure, there were 37,060 people in receipt of widowed parents allowance in Great Britain.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Belarus: Human Rights

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps she is taking at the United Nations to encourage action against Belarus on human rights.

Geoff Hoon: The UK and the EU take every opportunity in the UN Human Rights Council and the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly, to express our continuing concerns about Belarus's human rights record. The UN Special Rapporteur on Belarus presented a report to the Human Rights Council in September 2006. The EU spoke in the council's dialogue with the Rapporteur, expressing concern about the further weakening of the independence of the judiciary, intimidation of civil society activists, detention of political prisoners, and the situation of minority groups in Belarus. We will continue to use dialogues with the Special Rapporteur on Belarus, and other relevant UN Special Rapporteurs, to register our concerns and press for improvements.
	In November 2006, EU members co-sponsored a resolution on Belarus in the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly. It was duly adopted there and subsequently in the plenary session of the General Assembly. The resolution expressed deep concern at the deteriorating human rights situation in Belarus, including Belarus's failure to co-operate with the UN human rights mechanisms; its failure to conduct free and fair elections, including the detention and arrest of political and civil society activists; and persistent reports of harassment and closure of non-governmental organisations, national minority groups, independent media outlets, religious groups, opposition political parties and independent trade unions.

British Food

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion of food served in buildings occupied by her Department was of British origin in  (a) 2005 and  (b) 2006.

Geoff Hoon: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) plays an active part in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs' public sector food procurement initiative, and seeks to improve the sustainability of food supplied to the Department.
	In 2006, the following proportion of food served within the FCO was of British Origin:
	
		
			   Percentage 
			 Meat 49 
			 Fruit and vegetables 40 
			 Cheese 40 
			 Eggs 100 
			 Fish 60 
			 Milk 100 
			 Bread 100 
		
	
	The contract for the supply of catering to the FCO changed hands in mid 2005 and as a result figures for that year could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Embassies: Closures

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans she has to close British embassies in 2007.

Geoff Hoon: No British embassies or British high commissions have been closed to date in 2007 and there are currently no plans to close any such missions this year.
	The Foreign and Commonwealth Office continuously reviews the deployment of its resources and aligns them flexibly in line with UK interests to the benefit of the British taxpayer.

European Tender Information System

Mark Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the cost has been of the European Tenders Information System.

Geoff Hoon: The total project budget of the European Tender Information System (ETIS) was approximately £1.47 million between January 2005 and October 2006. Half of this was funded by the European Union's eContent programme. The remainder was funded by the fourteen ETIS partners in the nine countries (including the UK) involved, who provide services in the field of public procurement in their regions.

European Union: Constitutions

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the UK has been invited to attend the meeting organised by the German EU presidency on 27 February for those states yet to ratify the EU Constitution.

Geoff Hoon: To the Government's knowledge, the Germany presidency did not organise a meeting on 27 February for those states yet to ratify the EU constitution.

Iran: Nuclear Power

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions she has had with the authorities in Saudi Arabia on Iran's nuclear programme.

Kim Howells: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary raised Iran with Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Prince Saud in the margins of the Paris III Conference on Lebanon on 25 January. Officials discuss Iran's nuclear programme with the Saudi Arabian authorities on a regular basis, most recently on 12 March.

Iran: Sanctions

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what she expects the effects to be of the latest set of European Union sanctions on Iran; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: UN Security Council Resolution 1737 introduced sanctions targeted at the most sensitive elements of Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programmes. European Union Foreign Ministers decided in January to implement the measures broadly. We hope that these sanctions, and any further measures introduced as a result of discussions currently under way in the Security Council, will persuade Iran to suspend its enrichment-related, reprocessing and heavy water related activities which will permit a resumption of negotiations. There are signs that UN sanctions are beginning to influence the internal debate within Iran.

Iraq: Opinion Polls

George Galloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to her statement in the debate on 24 January 2007,  Official Report, column 1428, on Iraq and the wider Middle East, if she will place in the Library the results of the opinion poll of the people of Basra; who  (a) commissioned and  (b) paid for the poll; which organisation conducted it; and what its (i) methodology and (ii) sample size was.

Kim Howells: The information requested cannot be provided, in order to protect the personal security of individuals involved. The methodology and sample size used for the opinion poll were appropriate in order to gain statistically valid results.

Iraq: Security Guards

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will estimate  (a) how many private military and security companies are operating in Iraq and  (b) how many individuals are employed by such companies in that country.

Kim Howells: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office does not keep a record of private military and security companies operating in Iraq. The Private Security Company Association of Iraq (PSCAI) (www.pscai.org) has fifty companies listed as members and estimates that the total private security company workforce is approximately 30,000 employees, broken down as follows:
	
		
			   Number 
			 Citizens of United States/United Kingdom/Australia; 5,000 
			 Third country nationals such as Fijians, South Americans, Georgians, Ghurkas etc 10,000 
			 Iraqis 15,000 
		
	
	Figures are difficult to accurately assess as the labour force is very mobile and membership of PSCAI is not compulsory.

Lebanon: Overseas Aid

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much the Government pledged at the Lebanon donors conference.

Kim Howells: The UK provided a significant package of economic assistance to Lebanon at the Paris III conference, where my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary announced £58 million for Lebanon for the coming years and an additional £24 million for Palestinian refugees, in addition to the £23 million the UK gave last year in humanitarian assistance for Lebanon.

Lebanon: Overseas Aid

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether her Department will act as the sponsor department for the money donated to Lebanon.

Kim Howells: The UK provided a significant package of economic assistance to Lebanon at the Paris III Conference. The majority of the funding will come from the Department for International Development (DFID), although a small proportion will come from the tri-departmental (Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Ministry of Defence and DFID) Global Conflict Prevention Pool.

Paraguay: Embassies

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what reasons the British Embassy in Paraguay was closed.

Geoff Hoon: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) regrets having to close posts in any part of its overseas network. Such decisions are always difficult. The decision to close our embassy in Asuncion was part of a global reorganisation of our overseas network in response to changing demands and challenges, aimed at ensuring that the UK has a cost-effective and flexible network of overseas representation.
	The decision was in no way a reflection on the quality of our bilateral relations. As we made clear to the Paraguayan Government, we value the excellent relations we have with Paraguay.
	Since the closure of our embassy in Asuncion, coverage has been maintained from our embassy in Buenos Aires where our ambassador to Paraguay resides. In addition, the FCO has appointed an honorary consul based in Asuncion to provide emergency consular assistance. Contact details for both can be found on our website at:
	www.fco.gov.uk/paraguay.

Project Al Yamamah

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations were received by her Department about the Al Yamamah military contract prior to the announcement that the Serious Fraud Office would end its investigation into the contract.

Kim Howells: I regret to inform the hon. Member that to answer this question would result in disproportionate cost.
	The original Al-Yamamah military contract was signed between the Government and the Government of Saudi Arabia in 1985. Defence sales are handled by the Ministry of Defence.

UN Security Council

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will make a statement on the outcome of the Security Council discussions held in London on 26 February 2007 on Iran.

Kim Howells: United Nations Security Council Resolution 1737, adopted unanimously on 23 December 2006, requires Iran to take certain steps to help build confidence that it is not seeking to develop nuclear weapons. The Security Council asked the Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Dr Mohammed El-Baradei, to report in 60 days and said that it would adopt further sanctions if Iran did not meet its obligations.
	Dr El-Baradei's report, published on 22 February, showed that Iran has failed to take the steps required, including full suspension of all uranium enrichment related, reprocessing and heavy water related activities. Following its publication, senior officials from the 'E3+3' (France, Germany, UK plus China, Russia, US) met in London on 26 February to discuss next steps. They confirmed the E3+3's support for additional sanctions, designed to secure Iran's full compliance with its obligations and return to negotiations. They have since spoken by telephone several times and E3+3 representatives in New York have started to consider possible elements for a new Security Council Resolution, which we expect to discuss soon with other members of the Council.
	We remain committed to finding a negotiated solution. The E3+3's proposals for a long-term agreement, presented to Iran by EU High Representative Javier Solana in June 2006, remain on the table. We hope that Iran will take the positive course open to it. The Security Council has said that it will suspend the implementation of sanctions if Iran meets its obligations.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Age: Discrimination

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent research she has  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated on discrimination in the provision of basic goods and services to older people because of their age.

Phil Woolas: The Discrimination Law Review has evaluated a wide range of evidence and research on this issue. Examples include the report of the 'Research on Age Discrimination Project' carried out by the Open University and Help the Aged and a survey carried out by the University of Kent and Age Concern entitled 'Ageism—A benchmark of public attitudes in Britain'.

Best Practice

Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans she has to issue further guidance to local authorities on best practice in drawing up statements of community involvement.

Phil Woolas: The Local Government White Paper (LGWP), published in October 2006, highlighted the multiplicity of community consultation and engagement strategies in local authorities, including the Statement of Community Involvement for Local Development Frameworks. It concluded that in order to secure co-ordinated consultation and engagement across local authority activity we want the local authority and its partners to have the flexibility to draw up more comprehensive engagement strategies. We plan to issue guidance on these comprehensive strategies in autumn 2007 for consultation, to be published in spring 2008.

Gender: Equality

Howard Stoate: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will direct the Women and Equality Unit to form an advisory group on men's health issues to support the implementation of the Equality Act 2006's gender equality duties.

Meg Munn: The Women and Equality Unit (WEU) and the Department of Health have been working together with the Men's Health Forum to address health issues specific to men. They have provided funding for a number of events and will be supporting the Men's Health Forum's Conference later this month.
	In addition, the Department of Health recently established a Gender Equality Advisory Group. The aim of the Group is to advise the Department on current health inequality trends and to provide a consultative forum on Department of Health policy initiatives that impact on the NHS. Key stakeholders represented on the Advisory Group include the Men's Health Forum, the Equal Opportunities Commission and a number of other gender related advisory bodies across government as well as the Women and Equality Unit and the voluntary and community sector. The Group has already met and will be taking forward a number of gender specific actions including ones that affect men more generally such as prostate cancer.

Homelessness: Cumbria

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what her most recent estimate is of the number of people sleeping rough in  (a) Penrith and  (b) Cumbria.

Phil Woolas: The Government have published an estimate of the number of rough sleepers in England each year since 1998. At that time the Prime Minister introduced a target to achieve a two thirds reduction in the numbers of those sleeping rough by 2002 from 1,850. The target was achieved in 2001 and is being sustained.
	The National Estimate publishes figures on a local authority basis. Penrith is covered by Eden district council who recorded 0 rough sleepers in 2006. Cumbria recorded four rough sleepers.

Housing: Disabled

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate she has made of the  (a) one-off and  (b) recurring cost of implementing the Disability Discrimination (Providers of Services) (Adjustments of Premises) Regulations 2001 to (i) businesses and (ii) the regulators.

Anne McGuire: I have been asked to reply.
	Any costs to businesses arising from these Regulations were taken into account in the assessment of the overall costs of implementing the new duty for service providers that came into force on 1 October 2004. This duty requires service providers to make reasonable adjustments to physical features of their premises in order to improve access for disabled people to their services.
	The only costs that are likely to occur are where a service provider in leased premises is required to seek consent for an alteration to the premises. These are expected to be minimal. Other provisions in the Regulations set out circumstances in which a service provider is not required to make, or therefore incur the cost of, reasonable adjustments to a physical feature.
	There will be no costs to regulators, since there is no regulator responsible for enforcing the reasonable adjustment duties of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. Enforcement is by the individual disabled person who considers that he or she has been discriminated against by a service provider who fails to make a reasonable adjustment.

Housing: Flood Control

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate she has made of the proportion of new  (a) housing and  (b) commercial developments which are able to withstand the effects of flooding.

Yvette Cooper: No data are available on the proportion of new residential or commercial developments able to withstand the effects of flooding.
	The consideration of flood risk in new development by the planning process is covered by Planning Policy Statement 25 "Development and Flood Risk". This advises that where flood risk cannot be removed by seeking a lower-risk location for the proposed development, or by taking other mitigating measures, but where it is still desirable for that development to proceed, the measures to manage the remaining risk should include the use of flood resistant and resilient construction.
	We have carried out research into improving the flood resistance and resilience of new building and expect to publish a guide on these matters shortly.
	Planning control only applies to applications for new development. Flood resistance and resilience is also of importance to existing development, broadly 10 per cent. of which in England is in the higher flood-risk areas as mapped by the Environment Agency. We published guidance for existing buildings in "Preparing for Floods" in 2002, and revised it in 2003.

Housing: Greater London

Andrew Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much housing-related Supporting People funding was made available in each local authority in London in each year since its inception.

Phil Woolas: The Supporting People programme grant payable to London boroughs since the commencement of the Supporting People programme is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  £ 
			  London borough  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 Barking and Dagenham 4,544,327 4,997,640 4,829,776 4,774,078 5,061,217 
			 Barnet 7,542,572 7,490,089 7,210,584 7,118,201 7,497,667 
			 Bexley 2,809,055 2,777,648 2,776,759 2,776,454 2,984,688 
			 Brent 13,685,359 13,723,511 13,032,318 12,806,959 12,806,959 
			 Bromley 5,656,336 5,645,494 5,361,155 5,268,448 5,428,129 
			 Camden 40,496,526 39,696,525 37,242,715 36,452,312 35,723,266 
			 City of London 760,118 741,115 703,788 691,618 698,534 
			 Croydon 9,102,163 8,881,039 8,572,165 8,469,806 8,951,651 
			 Ealing 11,577,064 11,643,789 11,103,991 10,927,251 11,125,397 
			 Enfield 11,971,237 11,849,724 11,252,905 11,058,316 11,055,312 
			 Greenwich 9,607,127 9,505,899 9,113,923 8,984,893 9,302,736 
			 Hackney 24,509,011 24,114,767 22,900,212 22,504,214 22,221,917 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 14,112,586 13,932,752 13,231,020 13,002,225 12,826,145 
			 Haringey 23,764,720 23,323,001 22,148,323 21,765,327 21,330,020 
			 Harrow 3,619,539 3,624,556 3,498,300 3,456,462 3,582,678 
			 Havering 2,573,753 2,550,490 2,460,000 2,430,034 2,578,536 
			 Hillingdon 6,145,631 6,239,503 5,925,247 5,822,786 5,954,047 
			 Hounslow 5,500,202 5,614,200 5,423,405 5,360,124 5,525,734 
			 Islington 16,802,429 16,551,521 15,901,079 15,686,535 15,934,504 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 12,128,322 12,205,258 11,590,533 11,390,106 11,170,507 
			 Kingston 4,755,200 4,720,995 4,483,219 4,405,694 4,405,694 
			 Lambeth 22,565,449 22,112,120 20,998,429 20,635,317 20,792,197 
			 Lewisham 18,671,575 18,452,195 17,522,839 17,219,829 17,219,829 
			 Merton 3,583,735 3,523,216 3,345,767 3,287,911 3,385,278 
			 Newham 11,355,458 11,272,635 10,855,567 10,717,671 11,068,502 
			 Redbridge 4,466,479 4,394,844 4,258,705 4,213,412 4,467,863 
			 Southwark 20,184,059 20,108,613 19,095,830 18,765,619 18,765,619 
			 Sutton 3,755,546 3,833,837 3,640,743 3,577,786 3,667,041 
			 Tower Hamlets 15,539,395 15,732,633 15,166,392 14,978,978 15,384,899 
			 Waltham Forest 7,940,350 7,967,877 7,666,158 7,566,490 7,882,823 
			 Wandsworth 11,815,116 11,860,631 11,263,263 11,068,495 11,177,258 
			 Westminster 18,488,309 18,250,145 17,330,965 17,031,272 17,051,638

Housing: Standards

Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  how many arm's length management organisations have signed up to the Respect Standard for Housing Management;
	(2)  how many  (a) homes and  (b) residents in arm's length management organisation managed areas are covered by the Respect Standard for Housing Management.

Yvette Cooper: 36 arm's length management organisations (ALMO) who together manage over 500,000 units have signed up to the Respect Standard for Housing Management as of 1 March 2007. We estimate that over 1 million residents in arm's length management organisations are covered by the standard.

Housing: Standards

Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many arm's length management organisation (ALMO) managed residential properties have received a complete new set of windows since the start of the ALMO programme in April 2002; and how many received a complete new set in the most recent 12 month period for which figures are available.

Yvette Cooper: The following table, based on returns from local authorities, shows the number of dwellings managed by ALMOs on which capital works on windows (installation, replacement or major repairs) were undertaken in each year since 2002-03 and the total expenditure on such works. We do not collect separate data on the number of dwellings where complete new sets of windows are installed.
	
		
			  Capital works on windows in dwellings managed by ALMOs 
			   Dwellings  £ million 
			 2002-03 7,437 17.830 
			 2003-04 24,096 58.748 
			 2004-05 35,579 87.141 
			 2005-06 46,199 149.080 
			 2006-07 (forecast) 57,085 211.224 
			 Total 170,396 524.023

Travelling People: Lancashire

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate she has made of the number of Travellers residing in Lancashire in each of the past five years.

Meg Munn: Communities and Local Government do not collect information on the number of Gypsies and Travellers in each local authority area. However, it does publish a count of Gypsy and Traveller caravans in local authorities in England twice yearly. Copies of the latest publication "Count of Gypsy caravans on 19 July: last five counts" have been distributed to the Libraries of the House. An electronic version is available on the Department's website at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1153575

Travelling People: Lancashire

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what area of land in Lancashire is set aside for Travellers to reside on.

Meg Munn: Communities and Local Government publish a list of Gypsy and Traveller sites provided by local authorities and RSLs in England twice yearly. Copies of the latest publication, "Gypsy and Traveller sites provided by local authorities and RSLs in England—19 July 2006", have been distributed to the Libraries of the House. An electronic version is available on the Department's website at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1153575
	This does not include private sites.
	Local authorities will need to allocate land for Gypsy and Traveller sites in their Development Plan Documents to meet the pitch requirements set out in Regional Spatial Strategies.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Administration of Justice: Females

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he plans to respond to the recommendations in the Corston report on vulnerable women in the criminal justice system.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Government very much welcome this report and have given an undertaking that we will look carefully at the issues it raises and the recommendations it makes for change.
	The 43 recommendations made are wide-ranging and propose action by a number of different Government departments and other organisations to address together the complex and multiple needs of women both in the criminal justice system and at risk of offending. These recommendations will be carefully explored with all the departments and agencies concerned and the Government will develop a detailed response and set out an agreed way forward; we aim to respond in detail to this report in around three months.

Asylum

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers were being required to report to a reporting centre in December 2006.

Liam Byrne: The information requested regarding how many asylum seekers were being required to report to a reporting centre in December 2006 is not readily available.
	This information could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.

Asylum: Children

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many unaccompanied children claimed asylum in the UK in each year between 1997 and 2006.

Liam Byrne: The following table shows the total numbers of asylum applications received from unaccompanied asylum seeking children for each year between 1997 and 2006.
	Further information on unaccompanied asylum seeking children is published quarterly and annually. Copies of these publications and others relating to immigration to the UK are available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office Research, Development and Statistics Directorate website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.
	
		
			  Unaccompanied asylum seeking children applications( 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)  received in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants, 1997-2006 
			   Total UASC applications 
			 1997 1,100 
			 1998 3,035 
			 1999 3,350 
			 2000 2,735 
			 2001 3,470 
			 2002 6,200 
			 2003 3,180 
			 2004 2,990 
			 2005 (6) 2,965 
			 2006 (6) 2,850 
			 (1) Figures rounded to nearest 5. (2) Figures exclude cases where the age of the applicant is disputed. (3) An unaccompanied asylum seeking child (UASC) is an individual who is under 18 (or if there is no proof is determined to be under 18), and is applying for asylum in his/her own right; and is separated from both parents and not being cared for by an adult who by law or custom has responsibility to do so. (4) Figures exclude age dispute cases. (5) Data obtained from electronic sources from 2002 and not comparable with prior manual counts. (6) Provisional figures.

Asylum: Iraq

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Iraqi refugees there were in the UK in each year since 2000.

Liam Byrne: The number of Iraqi refugees in the country at any time could not be determined as refugees may leave the country without advising the Home Office.

Departments: Databases

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what databases are controlled by his Department and its agencies; and what percentage of the data in each database he estimates is inaccurate or out of date.

John Reid: The information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Departments: Energy

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what strategy he has put in place for  (a) the use of renewable energy and  (b) meeting energy targets in his Department's buildings; and if he will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: In 2004-05, the latest year for which figures have been published, 17 per cent. of the electricity consumed by the Home Office was acquired from renewable sources.
	This exceeds the new sustainable operations targets (SOGE) announced by the Prime Minister in June this year, which requires Departments to source at least 10 per cent. of electricity from renewable sources by 31 March 2008.
	The Home Office continues to explore opportunities to further increase the amount of renewable electricity acquired from renewable sources both with suppliers and through self generation.
	The Department has recently agreed a strategy that will enable us to address the remaining SOGE energy targets which require improvements in energy efficiency, reduction in carbon emissions and offsetting those emissions that cannot be reduced. Our central sustainable development policy team will shortly begin work on action plans to meet the following:
	increased Combined Heat and Power (CHP) uptake via central energy procurement initiatives and within new builds and major refurbishment projects
	introducing pilot schemes as a first step towards a fully fledged carbon neutrality strategy for the office estate
	participation in the OGC benchmarking scheme for the office estate which, among other aspects, looks at energy performance and will inform the setting of improvement targets.
	These initiatives will be supported by more reliable data systems that will be realised through our new shared service operations, as well as by procurement initiatives and funding for energy efficiency programmes to reduce emissions and for carbon offset projects.

Departments: Internet

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  whether he has considered the merits of merging the Respect, Together and Crime Reduction websites in order to improve the clarity of information provided to the public;
	(2)  what the annual running costs were of the  (a) Respect,  (b) Together and  (c) Crime Reduction websites in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 9 March 2007
	The Crime Reduction website promotes positive crime reduction messages from a broad range of organisations—governmental and non-governmental—both from within the UK and overseas and is aimed at practitioners working to reduce criminal activity. The Respect website, which replaced the Together website in October 2006, aims to inform a broader range of practitioners about dealing with antisocial behaviour by tackling the underlying causes, how to intervene early where problems occur and how to work closely with local communities to effect sustainable improvements. Both websites have been designed to meet the different information needs of these two audiences and are not aimed at providing information for the public generally. We have no plans to merge these sites.
	The annual cost for the technical support of the Crime Reduction site for 2006 is £113, 307. The accumulated costs for the Respect website for 2006-07 are £73,000. There are no associated running costs with the Together website as it is hosted by the Home Office and is no longer updated. Visitors to the site are signposted to the Respect website.

Departments: Logos

Mark Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which organisations have been employed to provide external consultancy advice on departmental rebranding since December 2006; and what the cost was of such advice.

Liam Byrne: The Home Office has not re-branded or undertaken a re-branding exercise. Our logo and strapline has not changed since it was created in 1999 and no external consultancy advice has been procured with regards to re-branding since December 2006.

Domestic Violence: Victim Support Schemes

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what  (a) financial and  (b) practical assistance his Department gives to groups providing support to families affected by instances of violence towards a parent by a child.

Parmjit Dhanda: I have been asked to reply.
	The Department, via the children, young people and families, strengthening families and family support grant programmes is supporting 207 3rd sector projects with over £20 million. These projects enable an increase in family and relationship support. The projects provide a range of information, advice and guidance which may include support for parents, carers and families experiencing different levels and types of family and relationship difficulties. This support might include, but is not specifically aimed at, families in which there may be instances of violence towards parents by children.

Downview Prison: Catering

Crispin Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when Aramark took over responsibility for provision of canteen services at HMP Downview; when the prison management was supplied with a draft service level agreement between Aramark and the Home Office; when he expects this agreement to be finalised; and when Aramark's contract expires.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Aramark took over the canteen service in May 2006. The draft Service Level Agreement was provided to the prison in December 2006. This is currently the subject of a review which is expected to be completed in April 2007. Aramark's contract with the prison expires in May 2009.

Holloway Prison

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 19 February 2007,  Official Report, column 108W, on Holloway Prison, if he will list the other further facilities referred to.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The further activities referred to are Bible Studies and one off events.

Immigration Controls: Fishguard

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many suspected illegal immigrants have been stopped by  (a) Immigration and Nationality Directorate officials and  (b) the police at the ports of (i) Fishguard and (ii) Pembroke Dock since 2005.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 5 March 2007
	Passenger ferries at Fishguard and Pembroke Dock arrive from Rosslaire in the Republic of Ireland which is part of the common travel area (CTA). The Immigration (Control of Entry through Ireland) Order 1972 sets out the laws under which foreign nationals are deemed to be given leave to enter when travelling within the CTA. There are police controls in place at Fishguard and Pembroke Dock.
	The following table sets out the number of suspected illegal immigrants stopped by police at these ports.
	
		
			  Suspected illegal immigrants stopped by ports police officers 
			   Fishguard port  Pembroke Dock port 
			 2005 48 18 
			 2006 42 21 
			 2007 (January and February) 8 6 
			 Total 98 45 
			  Notes: 1. The figures shown relate to those individuals spoken to by police officers on suspicion of illegal immigration. 2. The data provided are based on locally collated management information which may be subject to change and are not representative of national statistics.

Immigration: Detainees

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of those required to report to an immigration detention centre while their applications were being processed missed at least one appointment in  (a) December 2005 and  (b) December 2006.

Liam Byrne: The information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.

Offenders: Deportation

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many foreign prisoners were deported in  (a) October,  (b) November and  (c) December 2006.

Liam Byrne: The Director General of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate, Lin Homer, wrote to the Home Affairs Committee on 12 December 2006 and 19 February 2007 setting out deportation consideration and deportation action taken since April this year. A copy of these letters have been placed in the Library.

Prison Service: Pay

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the new Contract Supplementary Hours Scheme payment represents as a percentage of basic pay for  (a) prison officers on each pay scale point,  (b) senior officers and  (c) both payscale points for principal officers; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The rate for additional hours worked by operational prison staff under the Contract Supplementary Hours scheme is set annually by the Prison Service Pay Review Body. The rate is currently £15.38 per hour. The following table shows the hourly rate of pay for normal contracted hours for prison officers, senior officers and principal officers at each spine point, compared to the hourly rate for additional Contract Supplementary Hours.
	
		
			  Prison officer scale as at 1 April 2006  Annual payment for normal contracted hours [39] per week (£)  Average hourly pay for normal contracted hours [39] (£)  Hourly rate for additional contracted supplementary hours (£)  Percentage CSH rate compared to normal hourly rate 
			 Principal officer 31,134 15.29 15.38 100.57 
			  30,171 14.82 15.38 103.78 
			  
			 Senior officer 28,654 14.08 15.38 109.27 
			  
			 Prison officer 
			 LSI2 26,858 13.19 15.38 116.58 
			 LSI1 26,343 12.94 15.38 118.86 
			 Officer max 25,915 12.73 15.38 120.82 
			 Year 9 24,642 12.10 15.38 127.06 
			 Year 8 23,872 11.73 15.38 131.16 
			 Year 7 23,273 11.43 15.38 134.54 
			 Year 6 22,671 11.14 15.38 138.11 
			 Year 5 22,071 10.84 15.38 141.86 
			 Year 4 21,561 10.59 15.38 145.22 
			 Year 3 21,045 10.34 15.38 148.78 
			 Year 2 20,254 9.95 15.38 154.59 
			 Year 1 18,908 9.29 15.38 165.59 
			 Officer entry level 17,744 8.72 15.38 176.46

Prison Service: Recruitment

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Prison Service has plans in place to recruit sufficient prison officers to meet its current or projected operating staffing requirement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: I refer to the answer that I gave to the right hon. Member for Haltemprice and Howden (David Davis) on 8 March 2007,  Official Report column 2171W.

Prison Service: Working Hours

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the new Contract Supplementary Hours Scheme was introduced to the Prison Service; what the reasons were for its introduction; when the use of the scheme was extended; and what the reasons were for the extension.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Contract Supplementary Hours scheme was first introduced in April 2001 to overcome staff recruitment and retention difficulties in the South East which were affecting the Prison Service's ability to deliver decent prisoner regimes. The scheme was extended across the Prison Service from 30 April 2002 to provide operational flexibility and arrangements were formalised through Prison Service Instruction 26/2003 in June 2003. The scheme can be activated locally by individual Governors when staff vacancies occur in order to maintain regime delivery. Participation on the scheme is entirely voluntary.

Prison Service: Working Hours

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures the Prison Service has put in place to address the local recruitment and retention difficulties that caused the introduction of, and the extension to, the new Contract Supplementary Hours scheme.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Since 2001, the Prison Service has had in place a system of local pay allowance specifically targeting areas where recruitment and retention difficulties have been identified. In addition the "headstart" scheme allows Governors in areas where retention and recruitment is particularly demanding to appoint new staff on an enhanced level of basic pay at a point above the standard entry level. These measures, together with changes to recruitment procedures, have enabled the public sector Prison Service to increase prison officer recruitment from under 500 new staff in 2001 to over 1,700 new staff in 2006.

Prisoners: Foreigners

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many foreign nationals were held in UK prisons on 30 December 2006, broken down by  (a) nationality and  (b) offence.

John Reid: holding answer 2 March 2007
	Information on the numbers of foreign national prisoners detained in prison establishments in England and Wales on 31 December 2006 by  (a) nationality (all detained prisoners) and  (b) offence group by nationality (prisoners under immediate custodial sentence) can be found in the following tables.
	These figures have been drawn from administrative data systems. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system.
	
		
			  Table A: Population in prison by nationality and sex England and Wales 31 December 2006 
			  Nationality  Male  Female  Total 
			 All nationalities 74,236 4,293 78,529 
			 UK nationals 63,157 3,283 66,440 
			 Foreign nationals 10,279 915 11,195 
			 Not recorded 800 95 894 
			 
			  Total Africa 2,840 357 3,197 
			 Angola 81 2 83 
			 Burundi 8 3 12 
			 Dahomey (Benin) 7 — 7 
			 Botswana 2 — 2 
			 Ivory Coast 33 1 34 
			 Central African Republic 8 1 9 
			 Congo 113 7 120 
			 Cameroon, United Republic 45 4 49 
			 Cape Verde 2 — 2 
			 Algeria 210 1 211 
			 Egypt 14 1 15 
			 Ethiopia 65 4 69 
			 Ghana 179 31 210 
			 Gambia 40 1 41 
			 Guinea 13 — 13 
			 Equatorial Guinea 1 — 1 
			 Guinea/Bissau 1 — 1 
			 Kenya 56 4 60 
			 Liberia 24 4 28 
			 Libya 25 — 25 
			 Morocco 49 1 50 
			 Mali 1 — 1 
			 Mauritania 3 — 3 
			 Mauritius 22 1 23 
			 Malawi 13 1 14 
			 Mozambique 3 — 3 
			 Namibia 2 1 3 
			 Niger 5 — 5 
			 Nigeria 874 193 1,067 
			 Rwanda 15 3 18 
			 Seychelles 3 — 3 
			 Sudan 55 1 56 
			 St. Helena — 1 1 
			 Sierre Leone 84 7 91 
			 Senegal 9 — 9 
			 Somalia 309 12 321 
			 Chad 2 — 2 
			 Togo 9 4 13 
			 Tunisia 18 — 18 
			 Tanzania 15 1 16 
			 Uganda 85 6 91 
			 Western Sahara 1 — 1 
			 South Africa 143 35 178 
			 Zambia 15 1 16 
			 Congo, Democratic Republic 35 1 36 
			 Zimbabwe 139 24 164 
			 
			  Total Asia 1,643 95 1,739 
			 Bangladesh 168 1 169 
			 Burma 2 — 2 
			 China 232 24 256 
			 Hong Kong 6 — 6 
			 Indonesia 4 — 4 
			 India 269 7 276 
			 British India Ocean Territories 1 — 1 
			 Cambodia 1 — 1 
			 Korea Republic of (Sth) 4 — 4 
			 Sri Lanka 157 4 161 
			 Mongolia 8 — 8 
			 Maldives 1 — 1 
			 Malaysia 23 1 24 
			 Nepal 1 — 1 
			 Philippines 12 12 24 
			 Pakistan 447 8 455 
			 Singapore 4 — 4 
			 Thailand 2 7 9 
			 East Timor (Portuguese) 1 — 1 
			 Vietnam 300 33 332 
			 
			  Total central and South America 324 46 371 
			 Argentina 2 1 3 
			 Bolivia 5 1 6 
			 Brazil 59 14 73 
			 Belize 2 — 2 
			 Chile 14 1 15 
			 Columbia 112 9 121 
			 Costa Rica 3 — 3 
			 Ecuador 18 — 18 
			 French Guyana 4 — 4 
			 Guatemala 5 — 5 
			 Guyana 33 8 41 
			 Honduras 1 — 1 
			 Mexico 15 2 17 
			 Panama 2 1 3 
			 Peru 5 — 5 
			 Paraguay 1 — 1 
			 Surinam 6 1 7 
			 El Salvador 1 1 2 
			 Uruguay 3 — 3 
			 Venezuela 33 8 41 
			 
			  Total Europe 2,966 223 3,189 
			 Albania 148 1 149 
			 Armenia 3 — 3 
			 Austria 9 3 12 
			 Azerbijan 4 — 4 
			 Bosnia-Hercegovina 6 3 9 
			 Belgium 34 5 39 
			 Bulgaria 9 — 9 
			 Croatia 9 1 10 
			 Switzerland 4 — 4 
			 Czech Republic 35 2 37 
			 Cyprus 58 2 60 
			 Germany 123 16 139 
			 Denmark 8 2 10 
			 Estonia 15 2 17 
			 Spain 68 11 79 
			 Finland 2 — 2 
			 France 157 13 170 
			 Georgia 14 1 15 
			 Gibraltar 3 — 3 
			 Greece 14 4 18 
			 Hungary 21 2 22 
			 Irish Republic 640 42 682 
			 Italy 105 9 113 
			 Kazakhstan 3 — 3 
			 Kyrgystan 5 — 5 
			 Lithuania 176 18 194 
			 Latvia 46 1 47 
			 Moldova 44 2 46 
			 Macedonia 4 1 5 
			 Serbia and Montenegro 106 1 107 
			 Malta 7 — 7 
			 Netherlands 125 29 154 
			 Norway 5 — 5 
			 Poland 265 13 278 
			 Portugal 173 7 180 
			 Romania 105 11 116 
			 Sweden 12 6 18 
			 Slovakia 20 2 22 
			 Slovenia 6 1 7 
			 Russia 104 13 117 
			 Turkey 265 1 266 
			 Uzbekistan 3 — 3 
			 
			  Total Middle East 706 4 710 
			 United Arab Emirates 9 — 9 
			 Afghanistan 108 — 108 
			 Bahrain 2 — 2 
			 Iran 209 2 211 
			 Israel 27 — 27 
			 Iraq 280 — 280 
			 Jordan 12 — 12 
			 Kuwait 13 — 13 
			 Lebanon 22 1 23 
			 Oman 1 — 1 
			 Saudi Arabia 9 1 10 
			 Syrian Arab Republic 6 — 6 
			 Yemen, Republic of 7 — 7 
			 
			  Total North America 104 21 125 
			 Canada 19 6 26 
			 United States of America 84 15 99 
			 
			  Total Oceania 39 6 45 
			 Australia 20 4 24 
			 Fiji 10 — 10 
			 French Southern Territories 1 — 1 
			 Johnston Island 1 — 1 
			 Kiribati 1 — 1 
			 New Zealand 4 2 6 
			 Papua New Guinea 1 — 1 
			 
			  Total other 10 — 10 
			 
			  Total unrecorded 800 95 894 
			 
			  West Indies 1,647 162 1,809 
			 Aruba 1 — 1 
			 Anguilla 1 — 1 
			 Netherlands Antilles 22 6 28 
			 Barbados 29 2 31 
			 Bermuda 6 1 7 
			 Bahamas 5 — 5 
			 Cuba 1 — 1 
			 Dominica 7 — 7 
			 Dominican Republic 7 3 10 
			 Grenada 21 4 25 
			 Haiti 2 — 2 
			 Jamaica 1,414 110 1,524 
			 St. Lucia 25 6 31 
			 Montserrat 14 — 14 
			 St. Christopher and Nevis 1 — 1 
			 St. Kitts and Nevis 3 — 3 
			 Trinidad and Tobago 75 26 101 
			 St. Vincent and The Grenadines 13 4 17 
		
	
	
		
			  Table B: Prison population( 1)  within England and Wales at 31 December 2006 by nationality and offence group 
			   Foreign national prisoners  Not recorded  UK national  Total 
			 Offence group 7,407 153 56,268 63,828 
			 Violence against the person 1,326 39 15,507 16,872 
			 Sexual offences 752 14 6,228 6,994 
			 Robbery 597 10 7,915 8,522 
			 Burglary 246 16 7,678 7,940 
			 Theft and handling 262 9 3,258 3,529 
			 Fraud and forgery 883 18 838 1,739 
			 Drug offences 2,621 25 8,034 10,680 
			 Motoring offences 121 8 1,389 1,518 
			 Other offences 574 13 5,102 5,690 
			 Offence not recorded 24 2 319 345 
			 (1 )Prison population under immediate custodial sentence shown

Serious Organised Crime Agency

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Serious and Organised Crime Agency's annual report for 2006-07 will be published.

John Reid: The Serious Organised Crime Agency are planning to publish their annual report in the summer.

Serious Organised Crime Agency

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many criminal prosecutions have been brought by the Serious Organised Crime Agency since 1 April 2006.

John Reid: 316 people have been prosecuted as a result of SOCA operations over this period.

Serious Organised Crime Agency

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many members of staff employed by the Serious Organised Crime Agency are undertaking work to prevent  (a) drugs trafficking and  (b) fraud.

John Reid: The SOCA Board has determined that SOCA should aim to apportion broadly 40 per cent. of its operational effort to drugs trafficking and 10 per cent. to individual and private sector fraud.

Serious Organised Crime Agency

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action the Serious Organised Crime Agency is taking to disrupt the smuggling of guns into the UK.

John Reid: As part of the UK Control Strategy to respond to serious and organised crime, SOCA has developed a number of programmes of work, one of which is led by ACPO and relates to the response required to address illicit activity with respect to firearms. The programme seeks to build knowledge and understanding of firearms related criminality and, where appropriate, SOCA resources are deployed in support of operations to target organised crime enterprises believed to be involved in firearms crime.

Sexual Offences

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research he has  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated into the effects of incidence of sexual violence or abuse committed against offenders whether as adults or as children in the context of repeat offending or crimes of violence.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Home Office has not commissioned or evaluated research into the effects of incidence of sexual violence or abuse committed against offenders whether as adults or children in the context of repeat offending or crimes of violence.
	Links between the experience of sexual abuse and subsequent offending behaviour, i.e. the victim-offender cycle, are complex and a history of sexual abuse is generally associated with a range of adverse childhood experiences which are difficult to disentangle (Falshaw, 2005; Grubin, 1998 Falshaw, L. 2005).
	The link between a history of maltreatment and subsequent offending behaviour: Probation Journal, 52(4), 423-434. Grubin, D. (1998). Sex offending against children: Understanding the risk. Police Research Series. Paper 99. London: Home Office.

Special Advisers

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any of his special advisers have given notice of any other external employment they have undertaken in the past 12 months.

Liam Byrne: None of the Home Secretary's special advisers has given notice of any other external employment they have undertaken since being appointed to their positions at the Home Office.

Special Advisers

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of his Department's civil servants work full-time to support departmental special advisers; and what the salary is of each such civil servant.

Liam Byrne: The full-time equivalent of 2.5 of the Home Office's civil servants are employed in direct support of special advisers in the Department. The salary details of these civil servants may not be disclosed in order to protect the privacy of the individuals concerned.

Yarl's Wood Detention Centre: Health Services

Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will reimburse to Bedford Primary Care Trust the costs of treating detainees at the Yarl's Wood asylum detention centre; and if he will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 12 March 2007
	Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) have an existing obligation for commissioning secondary and tertiary healthcare services for detainees who reside in removal centres within their geographical area. Like other immigration removal centres, Yarl's Wood has primary healthcare provision on site that is funded through the contract with the centre operator. Detainees receive any necessary secondary healthcare services from the NHS. NHS services are, however, only used in situations where detainees cannot be treated through the on-site primary care provision and are referred to secondary services or in an emergency situation.

Young Offenders: Drugs

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many young offenders were screened positively for substance misuse in each year since 2002; how many accessed early intervention and treatment services in each such year; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Data on the number of young people identified as requiring substance misuse assessment and accessing early intervention and treatment services are collected by the Youth Justice Board from youth offending teams and are set out in the tables.
	The Youth Justice Board did not collect these data prior to 2004. The 2004-05 data were collected on young people accessing treatment within 10 days. In 2005-06 data were also collected on those receiving services within 20 days.
	Young people receiving services later than these timescales were not reported to the Youth Justice Board.
	These are not Home Office statistics and although care is taken in collating and analysing the returns used to compile the figures, the data are of necessity subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large-scale recording system.
	
		
			  Number of young people YOTs reported as requiring substance misuse assessment 
			   Number 
			 2004-05 17,524 
			 2005-06 15,414 
		
	
	
		
			  Numbers of young people YOTs report accessing early intervention and treatment services 
			Number 
			 2004-05 (within 10 days)  10,645 
			  Tier 2 7,672 
			  Tier 3 2,826 
			  Tier 4 147 
			
			 2005-05 (within 20 days)  12,874 
			  Tier 2 8,786 
			  Tier 3 3,972 
			  Tier 4 116 
			  Note:  Tiers 2, 3 and 4 refer to levels of service required for substance misuse issues of low, medium or high severity

TREASURY

Agriculture: Subsidies

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the Answer of 5 March 2007,  Official Report, column 1675W, on agriculture: subsidies, if he will break down the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs' £305 million claim on the revenue.

John Healey: The additional cover of £305 million on DEFRA's spring supplementary estimate is based on a prudent assessment at that time of issues raised in relation to progress in making payments and regulatory compliance for potential disallowances at the end of the financial year. Detailed discussions will take place with the Commission over a number of years before a final figure is reached.

Average Earnings

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the pay gap between  (a) women working full-time,  (b) women working part-time,  (c) women with dependent children,  (d) ethnic minorities,  (f) workers aged 50 years or over,  (g) workers with disabilities and  (h) those with the lowest qualifications and the hourly median earnings for men in each year since 1997.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 14 March 2007:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question regarding the pay gap between (a) women working full-time, (b) women working part-time, (c) women with dependent children, (d) ethnic minorities, (f) workers aged 50 years or over, (g) workers with disabilities and (h) those with the lowest qualifications and the hourly median earnings for men in each year since 1997. (126513)
	Average levels of earnings are estimated from the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), and are provided for employees on adult rates of pay whose pay for the survey period was not affected by absence. This is the standard definition used for ASHE. The ASHE does not collect information on the self employed and people who do unpaid work.
	Analyses for women with dependent children, ethnic minorities, workers with disabilities, and by qualification are not available from ASHE. The Labour Force Survey (LFS) does collect this information, but in the form requested it is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
	The attached table shows median gross hourly earnings excluding overtime and the pay gap, for full-time females, part-time females and all employees aged over 50, compared to the median gross hourly earnings excluding overtime for full-time men.
	The ASHE, carried out in April each year, is the most comprehensive source of earnings information in the United Kingdom. It is a one per cent sample of all employees who are members of pay-as-you-earn (PAYE) schemes.
	
		
			  Gender pay gap, United Kingdom 
			   Median gross hourly earnings excluding overtime( a) 
			   Full-time male  Full-time female  Part-time female  Employees aged 50+ 
			   £  £  Pay gap( b)  £  Pay gap( b)  £  Pay gap( b) 
			 1997 8.40 6.94 17.4 4.75 43.5 6.71 20.2 
			 1998 8.74 7.22 17.4 4.90 43.9 7.02 19.7 
			 1999 9.07 7.58 16.4 5.10 43.8 7.30 19.5 
			 2000 9.35 7.83 16.3 5.26 43.7 7.47 20.1 
			 2001 9.84 8.23 16.4 5.50 44.1 7.83 20.4 
			 2002 10.26 8.67 15.5 5.72 44.2 8.11 20.9 
			 2003 10.58 9.04 14.6 6.08 42.5 8.51 19.6 
			 2004 excluding 11.09 9.53 14.1 6.35 42.7 8.89 19.8 
			 2004 including(c) 10.96 9.37 14.5 6.32 42.3 8.87 19.1 
			 2005 11.29 9.82 13.0 6.72 40.5 9.39 16.8 
			 2006 11.71 10.24 12.6 7.00 40.2 9.84 16.0 
			  Notes: (a) Employees on adult rates whose pay for the survey pay-period was not affected by absence. (b) The percentage difference between the relevant hourly pay, and that of full-time males. (c) In 2004, additional supplementary surveys were introduced to improve the coverage of the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings. Figures are presented both excluding and including the additional surveys for comparison purposes.  Guide to quality: The Coefficient of Variation (CV) indicates the quality of a figure, the smaller the CV value, the higher the quality. The true value is likely to lie within +/- twice the CV—for example, for an average of 200 with a CV of 5 per cent., we would expect the population average to be within the range 180 to 220. All of the figures on this table have a CV of less than 5 per cent. The median is the value below which 50 per cent. of employees fall. It is preferred over the mean for earnings data as it is influenced less by extreme values and because of the skewed distribution of earnings data.  Source: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Office for National Statistics.

Business: Orders and Regulations

Tony Baldry: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his most recent estimate is of the  (a) one-off cost and  (b) recurring costs of implementing the Money Laundering Regulations 2003 to (i) businesses and (ii) the regulators.

Edward Balls: The Full Regulatory Impact Assessment for the Money Laundering Regulations 2003 lists the following costs for sectors:
	Legal and accountancy: £80-£100 million per annum;
	Estate agents: £10-£15 million for the first year. £5-£7.5 million thereafter;
	High Value Dealers: £350 per firm per year.
	HM Treasury's simplification plan 'Delivering Better Regulation', published in December 2006, identified a net administrative burden of £921,617 (per annum). This relates to the supervisory arrangements for Money Service Businesses and High Value Dealers, as set out in Part 3 of the Regulations.
	The Regulations have brought benefits in detecting, deterring and disrupting money laundering and terrorist financing.
	HM Treasury is committed to reducing regulatory burdens where possible. Work on identifying simplification measures to reduce the burden for industry of applying anti-money laundering controls is ongoing.

Departments: Africa

Mark Francois: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many officials accompanied him on each visit he made to an African country in January 2005; what the cost of hotels was for  (a) him and  (b) his officials on each visit; and whether (i) he and (ii) his officials stayed in accommodation provided by the UK's high commission or embassy in each country.

John Healey: In respect of overseas travel by Cabinet Ministers, since 1999 the Government have published an annual list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing £500 or more during each financial year. Copies of the lists are available in the Library for the reference of Members. All ministerial travel is undertaken in accordance with the rules set out in the "Ministerial Code" and "Travel by Ministers", copies of which are available in the Library for the reference of Members. For information on subsistence costs for HM Treasury I refer to the answer I gave on 16 October 2006,  Official Report, column 1060W to the hon. Member for Welwyn Hatfield (Grant Shapps). All official travel is undertaken in accordance with the requirements of the "Civil Service Management Code", a copy of which is also available in the Library for the reference of Members.

Departments: Conferences

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 19 February 2007,  Official Report, column 483W, on Members: correspondence, whether his Department will assist in the organisation of the conference.

John Healey: The organisation of this conference is not a matter for the Treasury.

Departments: Ministerial Policy Advisers

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether any members of the Council of Economic Advisers were involved in the formulation of his announcement on Citizenship and Immigration of 27 February 2007.

John Healey: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 13 March 2007,  Official Report, column 280W.

Departments: Ministerial Policy Advisers

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has received representations on the number of special advisers he employs.

John Healey: All advisers are employed in line with the Ministerial Code.

Departments: Standards

Mark Francois: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the characteristics are of a Red RAG (Red, Amber and Green) score for a departmental programme.

Stephen Timms: RAG assessment is a common tool used in a number of contexts across the public and private sector. The description of what constitutes a rating in any given RAG system will differ. HMT does not maintain a standard definition.

Disposable Income

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much and what proportion of disposable income was paid on average in  (a) direct taxes,  (b) indirect taxes by (i) working age households with dependent children, (ii) working age households without dependent children and (iii) pensioner households in each of the last three years, broken down by income decile.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 14 March 2007:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how much and what proportion of disposable income was paid on average in (a) direct taxes, (b) indirect taxes by (i) working age households with dependent children, (ii) working age households without dependent children and (iii) pensioner households, broken down by income decile in each of the last three years. (126508)
	Estimates of the proportion of income paid in both direct and indirect taxes appear in the ONS analysis 'The effects of taxes and benefits on household income'. The latest analysis for 2004/05 was published on the National Statistics website on 12th May 2006 at http://www.statistics.gov.uk/taxesbenefits. The analysis is based on data from the Expenditure and Food Survey (EPS), which is a sample survey covering approximately 7,000 households in the UK. The analysis for 2005/06 will be published on the National Statistics website on 17 May 2007.
	The tables below show the amount of direct and indirect taxes paid by each of the three different types of household. They also show the average payment of direct and indirect taxes as a proportion of income. However, since disposable income is that received after the payment of direct taxes, the proportion of disposable income paid in direct taxes is zero by definition. So only indirect taxes are shown as a proportion of disposable income. To enable a comparison, both direct and indirect taxes have been shown as a proportion of gross income.
	Figures have been provided for the last three years, and they have been taken from (or calculated from) figures appearing in the three most recent 'effects of taxes and benefits' articles, those for 2002/03, 2003/04, and 2004/05. The figures for non-retired households with children have been taken from Table 21, the figures for non-retired households without children from Table 20, and the figures for retired households from Table 18. Retired households are those where the income of retired household members accounts for more than half of the household gross income.
	Direct taxes include income tax, national insurance contributions and council tax. The indirect taxes include VAT, duties, intermediate taxes (see background notes), and a number of smaller items such as television licences.
	When comparing estimates over these three years, it should be remembered that the estimates are based on a sample, and that there is some uncertainty around the estimates. While there will have been some changes in the taxes paid by households over this period, the underlying changes are difficult to distinguish from the movements arising from sampling error, especially in the figures for decile groups. Given this, these figures are best interpreted as indicating the average level of tax payments over this three year period, rather than interpreting them as measuring how the tax burden has changed over these three years.
	There was a change to the way that tax credits were treated from 2003/04 onwards. Up until 2002/03 tax credits were treated as cash benefits. From 2003/04, they are classified as negative income tax, but only to the extent that income tax less tax credits, remains greater than or equal to zero for each family. So for households paying relatively little or no income tax, tax credit payments were still regarded either partially or wholly, as cash benefits. Based on figures for 2003/04, the effect of this change was to reduce the overall estimate of direct taxes as a proportion of gross income for all households, by 0.3%.
	Indirect taxes, when expressed as a proportion of either gross or disposable income appears particularly high for the bottom income decile, although this result needs to be interpreted carefully. Estimates of indirect taxes are estimated based on household expenditure. It should be remembered that measured expenditure will not necessarily balance with measured income for the year. This is especially true for the bottom income decile where average measured income is significantly lower than average expenditure. For these households, indirect taxes (which reflect expenditure) are not being met solely from current income, and so indirect taxes are very high when expressed as a proportion of either gross or disposable income.
	There are a number of plausible reasons why for some households, expenditure might exceed income. Households with low incomes may draw on their savings or borrow in order to finance their expenditure. In addition, the lower decile in particular includes some groups, who have, or report, very little income (for example, self-employed people starting a business or someone who has just been made redundant). In these cases, expenditure is not being met from current income. Some types of receipts are not included as income in the EFS e.g. inheritance and severance payments. In some cases, the information given on expenditure is not consistent with that on income received because of timing differences.
	
		
			  Table 1: Direct and indirect taxes paid by non-retired households with children by decile group, 2002-03 to 2004-05 
			   Decile groups of all non-retired households with children ranked by equivalised disposable income  
			   Bottom  2nd  3rd  4th  5th  6th  7th  8th  9th  Top  All households 
			  Average per household (£ per year)
			  Direct taxes
			 2002-03 826 1,426 2,038 3,398 4,629 5,840 7,588 9,728 12,456 23,632 7,156 
			 2003-04 787 1,410 2,514 3,644 5,002 6,421 7,977 9,798 13,265 25,471 7,629 
			 2004-05 910 1,517 2,908 3,876 5,197 6,492 8,271 10,088 14,220 27,420 8,090 
			 
			  Indirect taxes
			 2002-03 3,565 3,638 3,808 4,449 4,906 5,107 6,114 6,643 7,205 9,492 5,493 
			 2003-04 3,301 3,755 4,518 4,948 5,662 6,089 5,963 6,942 7,423 9,538 5,814 
			 2004-05 3,781 3,987 4,316 5,078 5,571 5,872 6,717 6,756 7,631 9,856 5,957 
			 
			  Percentages of gross income
			  Direct taxes
			 2002-03 8 9 11 15 17 19 20 21 22 25 20 
			 2003-04 7 9 12 14 17 19 21 22 24 25 20 
			 2004-05 7 9 13 15 17 19 20 21 23 26 20 
			 
			  Indirect taxes
			 2002-03 32 24 21 20 18 16 16 15 13 10 15 
			 2003-04 31 24 22 19 19 18 15 16 13 9 15 
			 2004-05 31 23 20 19 19 17 16 14 13 9 15 
			 
			  Percentages of disposable income
			  Indirect taxes
			 2002-03 35 27 24 23 22 20 20 18 17 14 19 
			 2003-04 34 26 25 23 23 22 19 20 17 12 19 
			 2004-05 34 25 23 23 22 21 21 18 16 13 19 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Direct and indirect taxes paid by non-retired households without children by decile group, 2002-03 to 2004-05 
			   Decile groups of all non-retired disposable income households without children ranked by equivalised disposable income  
			   Bottom  2nd  3rd  4th  5th  6th  7th  8th  9th  Top  All households 
			  Average per household (£ per year)
			  Direct taxes
			 2002-03 660 1,698 3,204 4,453 5,326 6,976 7,999 9,842 11,732 19,880 7,177 
			 2003-04 981 1,587 3,129 4,499 5,662 7,373 8,750 10,168 12,261 22,865 7,728 
			 2004-05 1,055 2,292 3,986 5,115 6,286 8,008 9,391 10,951 13,576 22,907 8,357 
			 
			  Indirect taxes
			 2002-03 3,010 3,069 3,796 4,411 4,734 5,240 5,358 5,879 6,841 7,472 4,981 
			 2003-04 2,775 3,230 3,695 4,263 4,673 5,185 5,392 5,908 6,051 7,872 4,904 
			 2004-05 3,010 3,740 4,229 4,421 5,097 5,577 5,502 5,974 6,474 8,211 5,223 
			 
			  Percentages of gross income
			  Direct taxes
			 2002-03 11 13 17 19 19 21 22 22 23 25 21 
			 2003-04 14 12 17 19 21 22 23 24 25 26 23 
			 2004-05 12 15 18 20 21 22- 23 24 25 25 23 
			 
			  Indirect taxes
			 2002-03 48 23 20 19 17 16 15 13 13 9 15 
			 2003-04 40 25 20 18 17 16 14 14 12 9 14 
			 2004-05 35 24 19 17 17 16 14 13 12 9 14 
			 
			  Percentages of disposable income
			  Indirect taxes
			 2002-03 54 26 24 23 21 20 19 17 17 12 19 
			 2003-04 47 29 25 22 22 20 18 18 16 12 19 
			 2004-05 40 29 24 22 21 20 18 17 16 12 18 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 3: Direct and indirect taxes paid by retired households by decile group, 2002-03 to 2004-05 
			   Decile groups of all retired households ranked by equivalised disposable income  
			   Bottom  2nd  3rd  4th  5th  6th  7th  8th  9th  Top  All households 
			  Average per household (£ per year)
			  Direct taxes
			 2002-03 632 701 754 617 810 1,021 1,358 1,848 2,650 6,655 1,705 
			 2003-04 712 687 867 873 770 1,231 1,628 2,181 2,856 6,687 1,849 
			 2004-05 901 726 903 908 825 1,202 1,473 2,062 2,894 6,128 1,802 
			 
			  Indirect taxes
			 2002-03 1,761 1,832 2,021 1,856 2,190 2,129 2,557 2,981 3,119 4,360 2,481 
			 2003-04 1,830 1,601 2,291 2,008 2,051 2,570 2,745 3,228 2,973 4,812 2,611 
			 2004-05 1,908 1,958 2,167 2,147 1,930 2,517 2,552 2,692 3,362 4,770 2,600 
			 
			  Percentages of gross income
			  Direct taxes
			 2002-03 10 8 8 6 7 8 9 11 13 18 12 
			 2003-04 11 8 9 8 7 9 10 12 14 19 12 
			 2004-05 14 9 9 8 7 9 10 11 13 17 12 
			 
			  Indirect taxes
			 2002-03 29 21 21 18 20 17 18 18 15 . 12 17 
			 2003-04 29 20 23 19 18 19 18 18 14 13 17 
			 2004-05 29 23 21 19 17 19 17 15 16 13 17 
			 
			  Percentages of disposable income
			  Indirect taxes
			 2002-03 33 23 22 19 22 18 20 20 17 14 19 
			 2003-04 32 21 25 20 20 21 20 20 17 17 20 
			 2004-05 34 25 24 20 18 21 19 17 18 16 19

EC Grants and Loans

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress his Department has made towards setting up a European growth fund.

John Healey: The European Action for Growth initiative, to which I assume the hon. Member's question relates, was endorsed by the European Council in December 2003. Under this initiative, the European Investment Bank (EIB) Group and the EU fund investment in trans-European infrastructure networks (TENs), innovation and R & D, identifying priority projects and research areas, and improving the regulatory, administrative and financial environment so as to mobilise private financing and to optimise public funding. The EIB, of which the Chancellor of the Exchequer is a Governor, has established a dedicated unit taking forward the initiative. Already, a number of instruments have been advanced including, for example, the Risk-Sharing Finance Facility (RSFF) and an increased contribution to the TENs Investment Facility. A mid-term evaluation of the Action for Growth Initiative is expected by the end of 2007.

Environment Protection

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer further to his announcement of 25 September 2006, when his Department expects to bring forward proposals on environmental technologies.

John Healey: The Commission on Environmental Markets and Economic Performance was announced by the Government in November 2006, and will report before the summer on how the UK can make the most of the opportunities provided by growing environmental markets.

Excise Duties: Alcoholic Drinks

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the potential additional revenue to his Department if the duty was payable on alcohol bought in other EU member states and imported to the UK.

John Healey: No estimates have been produced of the potential additional revenue if the duty was payable on alcohol bought in other EU member states and imported to the UK.

Population: Health Authorities

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what proportion of each strategic health authority's resident population is aged  (a) over state pension age,  (b) 65 or over,  (c) 75 or over,  (d) 85 or over,  (e) 95 or over and  (f) 100 or over;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the population size of each strategic health authority in  (a) 2010,  (b) 2020 and  (c) 2030; how many and what proportion of the projected population he estimates will be aged (i) over state pension age, (ii) 65 or over, (iii) 75 or over, (iv) 85 or over, (v) 95 or over and (vi) 100 or over in each year.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 14 March 2007:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary questions about asking (1) the current proportion of each strategic health authority's resident population; and (2) the projected population size, and proportion of the population, of each strategic health authority in 2010, 2020 and 2030, aged (a) over state pension age (b) 65 or over, (c) 75 or over, (d) 85 or over, (e) 95 or over, (f) 100 or over. (126551 and 126609)
	Table 1 shows the proportion of each strategic health authority's resident population aged over state pension age, 65 or over, 75 or over, 85 or over and 90 or over. These data are calculated from the estimates of the population at mid-2005 and are the latest available. They are not available for the age groups 95 or over and 100 or over.
	Tables 2a, 2b and 2c show the projected population size of each strategic health authority, as well as. the projected population size and the projected proportion of the population that are aged over state pension age, 65 or over, 75 or over and 85 or over, for the years 2010, 2020 and 2029 respectively. These data are from the sub-national population projections based on the mid-2004 population estimates. These projections only run for 25 years and are therefore only available to 2029. They are not available for the age groups 95 or over and 100 or over.
	All data are shown for the strategic health authorities on the 2006 boundaries.
	
		
			  Table 1: Proportion of 2005 mid-year estimate population by strategic health authority( 1)  for specific age groups 
			  Percentage 
			  SHA  over state pension age  65+  75+  85+  90+ 
			 North East SHA 19.5 16.8 7.7 1.8 0.6 
			 North West SHA 18.8 16.1 7.5 1.9 0.7 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber SHA 18.9 16.2 7.7 1.9 0.7 
			 East Midlands SHA 19.1 16.3 7.8 1.9 0.7 
			 West Midlands SHA 19.0 16.2 7.7 1.9 0.7 
			 East SHA 19.6 16.8 8.1 2.1 0.8 
			 London SHA 13.8 11.8 5.7 1.5 0.6 
			 South East Coast SHA 20.7 17.9 9.0 2.5 0.9 
			 South Central SHA 17.7 15.1 7.3 1.9 0.7 
			 South West SHA 21.8 18.8 9.4 2.5 0.9 
			 (1 )Strategic health authorities based on 2006 boundaries.  Source: Office for National Statistics 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2a: Projected population and proportions of population in 2010 by strategic health authority( 1)  for specific age groups 
			  2010 
			   Total population  Over state pension age  65+  75+  85+ 
			   Thousand  Thousand  Percentage  Thousand  Percentage  Thousand  Percentage  Thousand  Percentage 
			 North East SHA 2,566 532 20.8 448 17.5 210 8.2 55 2.1 
			 North West SHA 6,945 1,387 20.0 1,165 16.8 538 7.7 145 2.1 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber SHA 5,217 1,037 19.9 873 16.7 409 7.8 114 2.2 
			 East Midlands SHA 4,433 920 20.8 773 17.4 358 8.1 100 2.3 
			 West Midlands SHA 5,436 1,105 20.3 936 17.2 435 8.0 121 2.2 
			 East SHA 5,698 1,207 21.2 1,017 17.8 487 8.5 140 2.4 
			 London SHA 7,818 1,057 13.5 883 11.3 426 5.4 123 1.6 
			 South East Coast SHA 4,333 947 21.9 802 18.5 396 9.1 120 2.8 
			 South Central SHA 4,025 770 19.1 648 16.1 311 7.7 91 2.3 
			 South West SHA 5,242 1,227 23.4 1,040 19.8 506 9.7 152 2.9 
			 (1 )Strategic health authorities based on 2006 boundaries.  Source:  Office for National Statistics 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2b: Projected population and proportions of population in 2020 by strategic health authority( 1)  for specific age groups 
			  2020 
			   Total population  Over state pension age  65+  75+  85+ 
			   Thousand  Thousand  Percentage  Thousand  Percentage  Thousand  Percentage  Thousand  Percentage 
			 North East SHA 2,607 627 24.0 540 20.7 249 9.5 72 2.8 
			 North West SHA 7,163 1,620 22.6 1,402 19.6 653 9.1 183 2.6 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber SHA 5,507 1,232 22.4 1,067 19.4 500 9.1 145 2.6 
			 East Midlands SHA 4,679 1,127 24.1 982 21.0 461 9.9 132 2.8 
			 West Midlands SHA 5,612 1,283 22.9 1,120 20.0 540 9.6 156 2.8 
			 East SHA 6,034 1,460 24.2 1,278 21.2 615 10.2 185 3.1 
			 London SHA 8,386 1,172 14.0 989 11.8 462 5.5 142 1.7 
			 South East Coast SHA 4,587 1,113 24.3 974 21.2 477 10.4 149 3.3 
			 South Central SHA 4,192 917 21.9 799 19.1 387 9.2 119 2.8 
			 South West SHA 5,577 1,487 26.7 1,303 23.4 634 11.4 193 3.5 
			 (1 )Strategic health authorities based on 2006 boundaries.  Source:  Office for National Statistics 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2c: Projected population and proportions of population in 2029 by strategic health authority( 1)  for specific age groups 
			  2029 
			   Total population  Over state pension age  65+  75+  85+ 
			   Thousand  Thousand  Percentage  Thousand  Percentage  Thousand  Percentage  Thousand  Percentage 
			 North East SHA 2,638 725 27.5 632 24.0 315 11.9 93 3.5 
			 North West SHA 7,331 1,881 25.7 1,632 22.3 822 11.2 246 3.4 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber SHA 5,738 1,450 25.3 1,261 22.0 638 11.1 194 3.4 
			 East Midlands SHA 4,874 1,347 27.6 1,174 24.1 605 12.4 185 3.8 
			 West Midlands SHA 5,749 1 ,478 25.7 1,288 22.4 670 11.7 212 3.7 
			 East SHA 6,308 1,732 27.5 1,517 24.0 799 12.7 253 4.0 
			 London SHA 8,807 1,386 15.7 1,167 13.2 549 6.2 171 1.9 
			 South East Coast SHA 4,814 1,315 27.3 1,149 23.9 605 12.6 196 4.1 
			 South Central SHA 4,336 1,073 24.8 939 21.6 494 11.4 160 3.7 
			 South West SHA 5,862 1,766 30.1 1,548 26.4 824 14.0 264 4.5 
			 (1 )Strategic health authorities based on 2006 boundaries.  Source:  Office for National Statistics

Revenue and Customs: Standards

Mark Francois: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what factors led to HM Revenue and Customs being awarded a Red RAG score by the Office of Government Commerce in 2006.

Stephen Timms: The OGC have not published any RAG scores for HM Revenue and Customs in 2006.

Small Businesses: EC Countries

Mark Francois: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many small and medium-sized UK enterprises have used the STIMUTRAN-SME project.

Phil Woolas: I have been asked to reply.
	The STIMUTRAN-SME project aims to boost innovation and knowledge transfer between small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) of North West Europe through "Transnational Matching Centres" (TMCs). These will help SMEs develop transnational business activities and help them find compatible business partners in the North West Europe region. Small and medium-sized enterprises from the UK have not yet had the opportunity to benefit from the STIMUTRAN-SME project as the TMCs have not yet commenced operations, but will do so shortly.

Small Businesses: EC Countries

Mark Francois: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost has been to the public purse of the STIMUTRAN-SME project; and how much has been provided by the European Commission to the project.

Phil Woolas: I have been asked to reply.
	The total budget for STIMUTRAN-SME, a North West Europe INTERREG project, is £171,227.47, which is made up of European Regional Development Funding (ERDF) of £373,069.18 and £404,158.28 match funding provided by the 10 project partners themselves.
	The four UK partners (Southern Area Euro Info Centre; Highland Opportunity Limited; Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Business Link Kent) between them have a total budget for the life span of the project (2006-08) of £235,340.92. 48 per cent. of this is funded by ERDF (£112,963.32). The remainder, £122,377.60, has been provided by the four partners themselves. It is not possible to determine precisely how much of the match funding provided by partners may have originated from the public purse.

Statistics: Constituencies

Andrew Slaughter: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his Department has issued guidance to other Government departments on the production of statistics for new parliamentary constituencies.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 14 March 2007:
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question to any guidance has been issued to other government departments on the production of statistics for new parliamentary constituencies. (126442)
	Firstly please can I refer you to the answer that Colin Mowl gave on my behalf to a closely related question from Roger Godsiff MP (119197) last month (Hansard ref: 19 February 2007, column 233W).
	Furthermore there is a draft National Statistics Geography Policy that wherever possible stable geographies should be used as the building blocks for National Statistics. Wherever possible 'exact' outputs should be produced and published first for these core geographies. Outputs for other areas, including parliamentary constituencies, will continue to be released as long as they are required. These will be created either from the source data or via best fitting or estimation from the core units. Hence in principle it should be possible to provide the range of statistics that are currently available for existing parliamentary constituencies.
	A boundary commission report detailing the proposed new parliamentary constituencies was laid before parliament on 26 February 2007. There has not yet been a date set for the debates in the House of Commons and House of Lords to discuss and vote on these proposals.
	When we know the details of the new constituencies the ONS and other government departments will start producing data for them as resources and work programmes allow.

Statistics: Constituencies

Andrew Slaughter: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will provide the key statistics for the proposed parliamentary constituencies of  (a) Ealing Central and Acton and  (b) Hammersmith Borough from the 2001 census data.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 14 March 2007:
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking if we will provide key statistics for the proposed parliamentary constituencies of (a) Baling Central and Acton and (b) Hammersmith Borough from the 2001 Census data. (126443)
	The Office for National Statistics (ONS) is currently reviewing the most appropriate manner in which 2001 Census data could be provided for revised constituencies for the UK Parliament in both England and Wales once the boundaries for England are finalised.
	The amount of data produced from the 2001 Census for the revised constituencies, and the timing of its release, will depend on available resources and the priority of other Census outputs.

Tax Evasion

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his latest estimate is of the differences between the tax and duties which should have been paid and those which were paid in 2005-06.

John Healey: There are no reliable estimates for the difference between the total tax and duties that should have been paid and the amount actually paid in 2005-06.
	However, estimates of revenue losses in indirect taxes are available and are reported in "Measuring Indirect Tax Losses—2006", which is published alongside the PBR and can be found in the House of Commons Library.

Taxation: Aviation

Natascha Engel: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will assess the merits of exempting charities from the requirement to pay air passenger duty.

John Healey: Air passenger duty increased on 1 February in recognition of the environmental costs of air travel. This will deliver carbon savings of around 0.3MtC a year by 2010-11, or around 0.75MtC per year by 2010-11 when the effect of non-carbon dioxide emissions at high altitude is taken into account.
	The Government are committed to supporting charities and the third sector through a range of tax reliefs and other measures. In 2005-06, tax reliefs for the charitable sector were worth in excess of £2.5 billion.
	Given the level of support already extended to charities through the tax system and the administrative structure of air passenger duty the Government does not currently believe that an air passenger duty exemption would be appropriate.
	The Chancellor keeps all taxation policy under review, and considers all relevant economic, social and environmental factors in deciding future policy.

Tobacco: Smuggling

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of lost revenue to his Department due to tobacco smuggling from other EU states.

John Healey: It is not possible to estimate the level of tobacco smuggling solely from other EU states. Estimates are only produced on the revenue loss from smuggling originating from within and outside of the EU combined.
	The estimated revenue loss to the Exchequer (duty plus VAT) on cigarettes and hand rolling tobacco due to fraud, smuggling and counterfeiting for 2000-01 to 2004-05 is reported in "Measuring Indirect Tax Losses—2006" published by HMRC in December 2006 and is available in the House of Commons Library.

HEALTH

Breast Feeding

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the number of women who breastfed their babies for the first six months in each year since 1995.

Ivan Lewis: The national infant feeding survey conducted every five years provides information on the percentage of women breastfeeding their babies for the first six months. Both the 1995 and 2000 survey showed that 22 per cent. of the women breastfed their babies for the first six months in England and Wales as compared to 21 per cent. in the United Kingdom. Figures for the prevalence of breastfeeding each year are not available.
	The results of the national infant feeding survey 2005 are expected to be published in summer 2007.

Cancer: Drugs

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will ask the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence to undertake an appraisal of the kidney cancer drugs  (a) Sutent and  (b) Nexavar; what responsibilities primary care trusts have to make these drugs available to patients; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: holding answer 5 March 2007
	The Department has asked the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) to consult on the remit and scope for an appraisal of Nexavar for the treatment of renal cell carcinoma. A final decision on referral of this topic to NICE will be made in April 2007. The Department is currently considering referring Sutent to NICE for appraisal.
	In December 2006, the Department issued good practice guidance to the national health service on the managed introduction of new technologies. The guidance updates and clarifies the messages in an earlier Health Service Circular 1999/176 and makes clear to NHS organisations that they should not refuse to fund a treatment simply because NICE guidance does not yet exist. Until NICE has issued final guidance on a treatment, NHS bodies should continue with local arrangements for the managed introduction of new technologies, taking account of the available evidence.

Cancer: Medical Treatments

John Leech: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the financial impact on the NHS of positive National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) appraisals for medicines for  (a) lung cancer,  (b) breast cancer,  (c) prostate cancer,  (d) bowel cancer and  (e) less common cancers in each year since NICE was established.

Caroline Flint: Each technology appraisal published by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) contains an estimate of the cost to the national health service of its implementation. The table sets out NICE's published cost impact estimates for appraisals in the relevant topic areas, up to February 2007.
	
		
			  Technology appraisal  Date of issue  NICE estimates of full-year costs—England (£ million) 
			  Breast cancer   
			 Taxanes for breast cancer June 2000 16 
			 Taxanes for breast cancer—review September 2001 (1)0 
			 Trastuzumab for breast cancer March 2002 17 
			 Vinorelbine for breast cancer December 2002 6.5 
			 Capecitabine for locally advanced breast cancer May 2003 -1.2 
			 Trastuzumab for the adjuvant treatment of early-stage HER2-positive breast cancer August 2006 99.8 
			 Docetaxel for early breast cancer September 2006 8.8 
			 Paclitaxel for early breast cancer September 2006 (1)0 
			 Hormonal treatments for early breast cancer November 2006 17.4 
			 Gemcitabine for metastatic breast cancer January 2007 0.08 
			
			  Prostate cancer   
			 Docetaxel for hormone refractory prostate cancer June 2006 19.9 
			
			  Bowel cancer   
			 Laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancer January 2001 (1)0 
			 Capecitabine and tegafur with uracil for metastatic colorectal cancer May 2003 -16 
			 Capecitabine and oxaliplatin in the adjuvant treatment of stage III (Dukes' C) colon cancer April 2006 10.3 
			 Irinotecan, oxaliplatin and raltitrexed for advanced colorectal cancer—review August 2005 56 
			 Laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancer August 2006 0.8 
			 Bevacizumab and cetuximab for metastatic colorectal cancer January 2007 (1)0 
			
			  Less common cancers   
			 Taxanes for ovarian cancer May 2000 7 
			 Liquid Based Cytology for cervical screening June 2000 (1)0 
			 Temozolomide for brain cancer April 2001 1 
			 Gemcitabine for pancreatic cancer May 2001 1.9 
			 Topetecan for advanced ovarian cancer August 2001 7 
			 Fludarabine for B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia September 2001 (1)0 
			 Rituximab for follicular non-Hodgkin's lymphoma March 2002 (1)0 
			 PLDH (Caelyx) for ovarian cancer July 2002 3.1 
			 Imatinib for chronic myeloid leukaemia. October 2002 15.8 
			 Paclitaxel for ovarian cancer January 2003 (1)0 
			 Rituximab for aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma September 2003 13.15 
			 Liquid-based cytology for cervical screening—review October 2003 10.1-10.3 
			 Imatanib for chronic myeloid leukaemia October 2003 5 
			 Imatinib for gastro-intestinal stromal tumours (GIST) October 2004 4.7 
			 Paclitaxel, pegylated liposomal doxorubicin hydrochloride and topotecan for ovarian cancer (advanced)—review May 2005 2.25 
			 Rituximab for follicular lymphoma September 2006 3.4 
			 Fludarabine monotherapy for the first-line treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia February 2007 (1)0 
			 (1) Not considered to have significant cost implications.

Cancer: Northern Region

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funding  (a) Cumbria primary care trust and  (b) each other primary care trust in the north of England has been allocated for cancer treatment in 2006-07.

Rosie Winterton: We do not hold information centrally on levels of local funding allocations to primary care trusts (PCTs) for cancer treatment. However around £3.4 billion was spent on cancer services in 2003-04 and this increased by 12 per cent. each year to around £3.8 billion in 2004-05, and £4.3 billion in 2005-06.
	National health service funding is allocated to PCTs to meet the health needs of their local population, who in partnership with strategic health authorities and other local stakeholders, determine how best to use their funds to meet national and local priorities for cancer services.
	The following table shows the allocations to PCTs in the north of England for 2006-07.
	
		
			  Primary care trust  Revenue allocation 2006-07 (£ million) 
			 Cumbria 632.5 
			 North Lancashire 418.8 
			 Blackpool 213.8 
			 Central Lancashire 556.4 
			 East Lancashire 506.2 
			 Blackburn with Darwen Teaching 207.7 
			 Sefton 389.7 
			 Wirral 459.5 
			 Liverpool 733.2 
			 Knowsley 243.4 
			 Halton and St. Helens 434.7 
			 Warrington 237.1 
			 Western Cheshire 303.8 
			 Central and Eastern Cheshire 522.8 
			 Ashton, Leigh and Wigan 410.7 
			 Bolton 355.3 
			 Bury 226.7 
			 Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale 288.7 
			 Salford Teaching 346.8 
			 Trafford 275.4 
			 Manchester 736.0 
			 Oldham 304.1 
			 Tameside and Glossop 308.6 
			 Stockport 349.9 
			 North Yorkshire and York 870.0 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 345.7 
			 Hull Teaching 371.3 
			 North Lincolnshire 190.4 
			 North East Lincolnshire 210.4 
			 Rotherham 330.2 
			 Doncaster 401.6 
			 Sheffield 721.8 
			 Barnsley 319.9 
			 Wakefield 444.5 
			 Kirklees 485.1 
			 Calderdale 254.6 
			 Bradford and Airedale Teaching 655.5 
			 Leeds 952.0 
			 County Durham 711.8 
			 Northumberland Care Trust 399.1 
			 Sunderland Teaching 413.3 
			 Newcastle 386.4 
			 North Tyneside 273.2 
			 Gateshead 286.7 
			 North Tees 228.1 
			 South Tyneside 223.0 
			 Middlesbrough 208.8 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 189.4 
			 Darlington 136.4 
			 Hartlepool 131.9

Care Homes: Expenditure

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the expenditure was of each London borough on  (a) residential care homes and  (b) nursing homes for the elderly in each of the last five years.

Ivan Lewis: Information on the gross current expenditure for residential care by type of care for people aged 65 and over by each London borough for the years 2001-02 to 2005-06 has been placed in the Library.

Care Homes: Finance

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and what proportion of care home residents have their care  (a) partially and  (b) fully funded by (i) local authorities and (ii) primary care trusts.

Ivan Lewis: As at 31 March 2006, there were 259,000 supported care home residents funded fully or in part by councils with social services responsibilities (CSSRs)(1). Information on the total numbers of care and nursing home residents, including those funding the entire cost of their care, is not collected centrally.
	Information on the number of residents whose care is funded fully or in part by primary care trusts (PCTs) is not collected centrally. However, at 31 March 2006, 117,939 people(2) in England were in receipt of national health service funded nursing care, which is funded by PCTs.
	At 31 March 2006, 25,008 people were in receipt of NHS funded continuing care and therefore have their care costs met in full by the NHS.
	(1 )Source—Information Centre on health and social care.
	(2) Some of this number will be included in the 259,000 whose care is partly or fully funded by CSSRs.

Cervical Cancer: Screening

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many women in  (a) England,  (b) each strategic health authority and  (c) each primary care trust (i) were called for and (ii) attended cervical screening in each of the last five years, broken down by age.

Rosie Winterton: The uptake of national health service cervical screening programme invitations is not collected nationally and comparing the number of women invited with the number of women screened would not give an accurate account of uptake of invitations, as the figures for the number of women screened also include self and general practitioner referral (for example, those not invited by the screening programme). Because of this we have provided five-year coverage figures, which has been placed in the Library.
	Coverage is the standard calculation used to compare primary care trusts (PCTs) and strategic health authorities (SHAs). The coverage of the screening programme is the proportion of women resident and eligible who have had a test with a recorded result at least once in the previous five years.
	2001-02 data are not available for PCTs and SHAs due to their formation in 2002. For this reason 2001-02 data are at England level.

Cervical Cancer: Vaccination

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will direct the Joint Committee on Vaccinations to meet to consider recommendations from its sub-group on Gardasil to ensure that the vaccine is rolled out during 2007-08.

Caroline Flint: The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) human papilloma virus (HPV) subgroup met on 28 February to review the available information on the protective effect of the vaccine against cervical cancer, and the safety of HPV vaccines. Further work is ongoing to evaluate whether the vaccine is considered to be a cost-effective prevention of cervical cancer; and the impact that HPV vaccine may have on genital warts.
	The sub group's advice will be reported to the main JCVI committee for further discussion. No decisions will be taken on introducing these vaccines into the immunisation programme until the main JCVI present their advice to Ministers for their consideration.

Childbirth: Durham

Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) underweight and  (b) premature babies were born in (i) County Durham and (ii) the City of Durham in the last year for which figures are available; and how many in each category were born in 1997.

Ivan Lewis: This information is not held centrally.

Community Nurses: Shropshire

Philip Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) district and  (b) community nurses have been employed by Shropshire primary care trust in each year since 1997.

Caroline Flint: The information is not available in the format requested. The table shows qualified community nursing staff by level in the Shropshire primary care trust as at 30 September for each specified year.
	
		
			  Headcount 
			   2002  2003  2004  2005 
			 All qualified community nursing staff 511 558 605 616 
			 District Nurses 89 116 106 52 
			 Health Visitors 89 87 92 75 
			 School Nursing Service Nurses — — — 19 
			  Of which: 
			 Nurses with a school nursing qualification — — — 2 
			 Other Qualified Community Services Nurses 115 139 141 190 
			 Practice Nurses 122 114 138 135 
			 Community Learning Disabilities Nurses 11 12 12 11 
			 Community Psychiatric Nurses 85 90 116 134 
			  Source: The Information Centre for health and social care non-medical workforce census.

Contraceptives

Laura Moffatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when her Department expects to publish the findings of the Contraceptive Services Audit; and if she will make a statement on the findings of the audit.

Caroline Flint: The findings of the Baseline Review of Contraceptive Services 2005 (Contraceptive Services Audit) will be published shortly and we are developing best practice guidance on reproductive healthcare which will address the key issues arising from the review.

Dementia: Medical Treatments

Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether her Department recommends anti-cholinisterease inhibitors for the treatment of people with dementia displaying challenging behaviour symptoms.

Ivan Lewis: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence clinical guideline states that anti-cholinesterase inhibitors are recommended as options in the management of people with Alzheimer's disease of moderate severity only.
	It also recommends that people with dementia who develop non-cognitive symptoms or behaviour that challenges should be offered a pharmacological intervention in the first instance only if they are severely distressed or there is an immediate risk of harm to the person or others.

Dental Services

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients accessed primary care dental services in each quarter since the quarter ending June 2004  (a) in England and  (b) broken down by primary care trust area.

Rosie Winterton: Information on patients accessing national health service dental services is not held centrally for each quarter and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	Information on patients seen in the last 24 months is published quarterly and has been placed in the Library, at England, strategic health authority and primary care trust level. This statistic has been published since March 2006.
	Data for the new primary care trusts will be published on 23 March 2007.

Dental Services

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what total patient charge revenue income her Department expects each primary care trust to receive in 2006-07 through the delivery of primary dental services.

Rosie Winterton: A table listing the primary dental service resource allocations for 2006-07 for all primary care trusts (PCTs) in England as at 31 July 2006 is available in the Library. This sets out the net allocations awarded to PCTs and the assumed gross budgets based on illustrative assumptions about levels of patient charge income for each PCT. Strategic health authorities agreed with their PCTs locally how these allocations would be redistributed within the new PCT areas that took effect from 1 October 2006.
	A number of factors may affect the actual levels of patient charge income in a financial year, including the annual number of units of dental activity commissioned by PCTs, the time needed for new dental services to be commissioned and to come into operation, the timeliness of the reports submitted by dentists on completed courses of treatment, changes in the mix of charge-paying and charge-exempt patients treated, and the incidence of certain charge-free courses of treatment for patients who would normally pay charges.

Departments: Missing Persons

Helen Southworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health on how many occasions and on what dates her Department has been represented at a meeting of the Missing Persons Strategic Oversight Group since May 2004.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 28 February 2007
	The establishment of the Missing Persons Strategic Oversight Group (SOG) was recommended by the 2005 Perry Nove Review on the Police National Missing Persons Bureau. This review proposed the establishment of a permanent oversight group drawn from statutory bodies and the voluntary sector. The SOG has met twice: firstly, on 22 March 2006 and, secondly on 6 November 2006.
	The Department and the Department for Education and Skills attended the second of these meetings. The Home Office has been represented at both meetings. In addition to SOG meetings, all three Departments have ongoing bilateral contact with other stakeholders represented on the SOG.

Departments: Private Finance Initiative

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for which future projects her Department is considering a private finance initiative deal; what the estimated lifetime value of each potential contract is; and what period each will cover.

Andy Burnham: The following private finance initiative schemes are awaiting a formal review by the Department as part of the reappraisal process.
	
		
			  PFI scheme  Pre-review estimated capital value (£ million) 
			 Hillingdon Hospital 338 
			 Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital 144 
			 North West London Hospitals—Northwick Park 305 
			 Southend Hospital 100 
			 Taunton and Somerset 79 
			 Papworth Hospitals 148 
			 Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals—2010 500 
			 West Hertfordshire Hospitals 330 
			 East and North Hertfordshire 550 
			 Southampton University Hospitals 69 
			 Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals 500 
			 Royal Liverpool Children's Hospital 300 
			 Leeds Teaching Hospitals—Children's 260 
			 Heatherwood and Wexham Park Hospitals 200 
			 United Bristol Healthcare 104 
			 Mersey Care 170 
			 Royal Wolverhampton Hospitals 317 
		
	
	As the schemes yet to be reviewed are at a very early stage in the procurement process, it is not yet possible to estimate the likely annual payment and therefore total sum payable of the lifetime of the contract. Under the national health service standard form contract (introduced in 1999) the standard contract length exclusive of build period is 30 years, although this can be varied on a case-by-case basis subject to the agreement of the Department.

Departments: Private Finance Initiative

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what percentage of her Department's budget was taken up by private finance initiative commitments in each of the last 10 years for which information is available; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what percentage of her Department's budget will be taken up by public finance initiative commitments in each of the next 10 years, assuming that the budget grows in line with the Treasury's estimates for gross domestic product over the period; and if she will make a statement.

Andy Burnham: The first private finance initiative (PFI) scheme become operational in 2000. There are therefore no payments prior to this date.
	Revenue figures are not available beyond 2007-08 as the Department has not yet entered into its Comprehensive Spending Review with HM Treasury. It is therefore not possible to forecast annual payments under PFI as a percentage of overall revenue expenditure.
	The information is detailed in the following table.
	
		
			Net NHS revenue expenditure (£ million)  Aggregated payments under PFI (£ million)  PFI payments as a percentage of overall NHS revenue expenditure 
			 2000-01 Outturn 42,686 59 0.14 
			 2001-02 Outturn 47,289 187 0.40 
			 2002-03 Outturn 51,935 262 0.50 
			 2003-04 Outturn 61,583 357 0.58 
			 2004-05 Outturn 66,473 382 0.57 
			 2005-06 Estimated Outturn 73,697 469 0.64 
			 2006-07 Planned 79,179 619 0.78 
			 2007-08 Planned 85,974 728 0.85

Departments: Royal Visits

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if she will place in the Library copies of the  (a) agenda and  (b) minutes of the meeting on 24 February 2003 between HRH the Prince of Wales and the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health;
	(2)  what the  (a) purpose and  (b) outcomes were of the meeting on 24 February 2003 between HRH the Prince of Wales and the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health.

Caroline Flint: holding answer 9 March 2007
	A meeting was held on 24 February 2003 between HRH the Prince of Wales and the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, for Health (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath).

Departments: Smith Institute

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much money from the public purse  (a) her Department and  (b) its agencies gave to (i) the Smith Institute and (ii) its subsidiary SI Events Limited in each year since 1997; and for what purpose each payment was made.

Ivan Lewis: The Department has not paid either the Smith institute or SI Events Limited since 2002. Financial data for the years prior to this have been archived and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	The Department's agencies have not made any payments to either organisation.

Emergent BioSolutions

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what payments from the public purse were made to Emergent BioSolutions in each of the last three years.

Ivan Lewis: The Department has made no payments to Emergent BioSolutions in the last three years.

Executive Agencies

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how much was spent by each of her Department's executive agencies in each Government Office region in the most recent year for which figures are available;
	(2)  which of the executive agencies of her Department have regional offices outside London.

Ivan Lewis: The Department has two executive agencies. These are:
	The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). The MHRA does not hold records of spend in each of the government regions. The MHRA have no regional offices outside London; and
	The NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency (PASA). PASA does not hold records of spend in each of the government regions. PASA has three offices in Chester, Reading and Sheffield. The office in Reading is also the agency's head office. They are not regional offices as such but from where business is undertaken.

Folic Acid

John Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice she has received from the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition regarding the compulsory fortification of flour with folic acid; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: In December 2006, the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) recommended mandatory fortification of folic acid as the most effective way to reduce the risk of pregnancies affected by neural tube defects (NTD), providing voluntary fortification of food with folic acid is controlled and guidance is provided on the use of supplements containing folic acid.
	The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is currently consulting on different options to improve the folate status of young women in order to reduce the number of NTD-affected pregnancies.
	The FSA Board will consider SACN's recommendation and the responses from the public consultation in May 2007. It will then provide advice to Health Ministers regarding mandatory fortification of flour with folic acid.

General Practitioners: Finance

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment her Department has made of the effects of devolving budget responsibilities to GPs on the quality of patient care.

Andy Burnham: General practices have been devolved indicative budgets under practice-based commissioning (PBC). By December 2006, all primary care trusts had arrangements in place to support PBC, including providing indicative practice budgets. No full assessment has yet been made of the effects of PBC, but the Department has in place support to drive forward the practical implementation of PBC and a monitoring framework to assess the impact of PBC on patient care and service development.

Health Education: Carbon Monoxide

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps her Department is taking to raise awareness of carbon monoxide poisoning; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave my hon. Friend, the Member for Dudley, North (Mr. Austin) on 30 November 2006,  Official Report, columns 911-12W.
	The Department is committed to help prevent deaths caused by carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning and raise awareness of the dangers of CO poisoning. Specific recent actions to achieve this include publications to increase awareness of medical staff and the public.
	In his January 2006 update, which is sent to all doctors registered with the General Medical Council in England, including hospital and A & E doctors, and copied to the devolved Administrations for information, the chief medical officer (CMO) provides advice to doctors on CO poisoning, which is available in the Library. CMO updates are also available on the Department's website at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/PublicationsAndStatistics/LettersAnd Circulars/CMOUpdate/CMOUpdateArticle/fs/en?CONTENT_ID=4126235&chk=y6qnQn
	The Department has produced a public information leaflet "Indoor air pollution—Carbon monoxide. Risks to health and how to avoid them," distributed early in 2006 to all general practitioners surgeries in England, which provides information on the symptoms of CO poisoning, ways in which to prevent poisoning and the contact details of organisations and other Government Departments involved with the prevention of CO poisoning. This leaflet has been endorsed by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the Heating Equipment Testing and Approval Scheme, the Council for Registered Gas Installers (CORGI), the national voluntary organisation CO-Gas Safety, the Solid Fuel Association, and the national health service, and includes the CORGI emergency helpline. The leaflet, which is available in the Library, is also available free, from the Department's publication stores and on the Department's website at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/PublicationsAndStatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/Publications PolicyAndGuidanceArticle/fs/en?CONTENT_ID=4123787&chk=sAoYSp
	The Department has produced a booklet "Keep Warm Keep Well, a winter guide 2006-07", which among many subjects, contains useful advice on the maintenance of heating appliances and protection from CO poisoning, which is available in the Library. This has been widely distributed and is also available from the Department's publication stores and on the Department's website at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/PolicyAndGuidance/HealthAndSocialCareTopics/HealthAndSocialCareArticle/fs/en?CONTENT_ID=4076849&chk=N3IuFO
	The Department is also funding a national voluntary organisation, CO-Gas Safety, through the section 64 General Scheme of Grants, in its work in raising awareness about the dangers of carbon monoxide.
	As part of the HSE's "Review of Domestic Gas Safety", a cross-Government group, which includes officials from my Department, has been set up to consolidate the valuable work that is being done, and to help further raise awareness, particularly through encouraging greater co-ordinated industry actions.

Health Services: Detention Centres

Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what allowance is made in formula funding for the treatment of detainees in asylum detention centres.

Caroline Flint: holding answer 12 March 2007
	The weighted-capitation formula, used to inform revenue allocations to primary care trusts (PCTs), does not take specific account of detainees in Immigration Service removal centres. However, migration is taken account of within the population base used for revenue allocations. The population base is a combination of Office for National Statistics (ONS) populations and general practitioners lists. ONS add asylum seekers to their population estimates using data provided by the Home Office. All removal centres have primary healthcare provision on site. National health service services are only used, therefore, when detainees cannot be treated within the on-site Home Office funded primary care services.

Hearing Aids: Waiting Lists

Derek Conway: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the waiting times for digital hearing aid  (a) assessment and  (b) fitting are in London, broken down by primary care trust.

Ivan Lewis: The following table shows data on the waiting times for audiology assessments as at end of December 2006. The Department does not collect data on fitting of aids.
	
		
			  Organisation name  Total waiting  Median waiting time (weeks) 
			 Havering PCT 3,149 42.3 
			 Kingston PCT 465 19.1 
			 Bromley PCT 171 4.9 
			 Greenwich PCT 676 33.0 
			 Barnet PCT 164 7.8 
			 Hillingdon PCT 127 5.1 
			 Enfield PCT 22 7.7 
			 Barking and Dagenham PCT 1,463 27.1 
			 City and Hackney PCT 93 7.7 
			 Tower Hamlets PCT 59 13.0 
			 Newham PCT 143 5.8 
			 Haringey PCT 79 7.3 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham PCT 101 16.7 
			 Ealing PCT 465 22.7 
			 Hounslow PCT 19 16.9 
			 Brent PCT 50 7.7 
			 Harrow PCT 21 12.0 
			 Camden PCT 75 6.7 
			 Islington PCT 44 7.2 
			 Croydon PCT 1,329 25.9 
			 Kensington and Chelsea PCT 101 16.2 
			 Westminster PCT 140 14.5 
			 Lambeth PCT 650 25.1 
			 Southwark PCT 567 29.9 
			 Lewisham PCT 241 13.0 
			 Wandsworth PCT 405 8.7 
			 Richmond and Twickenham PCT 96 14.5 
			 Sutton and Merton PCT 2,246 48.2 
			 Redbridge PCT 204 8.3 
			 Waltham Forest PCT 139 6.2 
			 Bexley Care Trust 324 14.1 
			  Source: Department, DM01

Hearing Aids: Waiting Lists

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what target her Department has set for the length of time a patient should wait for a digital hearing aid to be fitted.

Ivan Lewis: The national audiology framework "Improving Access to Audiology Services" in England, was published on 6 March 2007 and is available in the Library. It sets out clear guidance to the national health service on how to reduce waiting times and how to provide the additional 300,000 pathways that are needed in the run-up to December 2008 to make a maximum wait of 18 weeks from referral to treatment possible for all audiology referrals. It aims to mitigate the risk to 18-week delivery and create a sustainable service model for audiology for the long term.
	The most complex audiology cases will be covered by the target of treatment within 18 weeks of referral by December 2008. And the remaining routine adult hearing loss cases should be assessed within six weeks by March 2008, in line with the diagnostic waiting time milestone on which local commissioning plans are based. It is also good practice for the subsequent hearing aid fitting to be carried out soon after or at the same time as assessment.

Home Births

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what targets the Government have set for home deliveries in  (a) rural and  (b) urban settings over the next five years;
	(2)  what plans she has to provide further support for those mothers who wish their babies to be delivered at home.

Ivan Lewis: We cannot set targets for home births. It is for local primary care trusts and national health service trusts to determine the appropriate pattern of service provision locally, taking into account the choice and needs of local people.
	The Government are committed to offering, by 2009, all women the choice of how and where they give birth, for example a birth at home, a birth supported by a midwife or a birth supported by a team of clinicians including a midwife and an obstetrician. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence is preparing guidelines on intrapartum care, due to be published in June 2007, which will include guidance on home births.
	We will shortly be publishing a document on the delivery of the maternity commitments made in the manifesto and in "Our Health, Our Care, Our Say", which, when published, will focus on providing continuing support and safe maternity services for all women.

Hospital Beds

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the maximum period of time is for which her Department permits primary care trusts to close beds on a temporary basis.

Andy Burnham: Decisions on whether to close beds permanently or otherwise are made locally.

Hospital Beds

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Health after what period of time her Department deems the temporary closure and removal of beds a permanent closure.

Andy Burnham: Decisions on whether to close beds permanently or otherwise are made locally.

Hospitals: Acute Beds

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many acute hospitals there are in England; how many beds there are in each; and which are  (a) tertiary care centres,  (b) specialist units and  (c) district general hospitals.

Andy Burnham: The Department maintains no official definition of acute hospital and is aware of no body with the responsibility to define it.
	Data on hospital beds are collected at trust, rather than hospital level. Further, the Department does not centrally collect whether beds are located in tertiary care centres, specialist units or district general hospitals.
	A table which shows the average daily number of available hospital beds in 2005-06 (the latest year's data) for national health service organisations that provided acute beds has been placed in the Library.

Hospitals: Admissions

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many primary care trusts carried out public and patient consultation in accordance with section 11 of the Health and Social Care Act prior to introducing referral management schemes.

Rosie Winterton: The information requested is not held centrally. The use of referral management schemes is for local determination.

Hospitals: Construction

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what major hospital building projects were approved in each of the last five years, broken down by parliamentary constituency; and if she will make a statement.

Andy Burnham: The tables give details of hospital building projects with a capital value of over £58.7 million (the threshold conventionally used to denote a 'major' scheme at 2006-07 prices) which have had full business case approval or have been approved to proceed to the next stage following the private finance review.
	
		
			  Schemes which have had full business case approval 
			  Constituency( 1)  Hospital scheme  Capital value at 2006-07 prices  (£ million)  Year approved  Status 
			 Coventry North East University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust 416 2002 Operational 
			 Blackburn East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust 117 2003 Operational 
			 Brent North West London Hospitals NHS Trust 74 2003 Operational 
			 Oxford East Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust 134 2003 Operational 
			 Wolverhampton North East The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust 61 2003 Operational 
			 Basildon Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Trust 63 2003 Under construction 
			 Derby, South Derby Hospitals NHS Trust 333 2003 Under construction 
			 Oxford, East Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust 129 2003 Under construction 
			 Across many Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust 89 2004 Operational 
			 Lewisham West Lewisham Hospital NHS Trust 75 2004 Operational 
			 Putney Wandsworth Primary Care NHS Trust 79 2004 Operational 
			 Romford Barking, Havering and Redbridge Hospitals NHS Trust 254 2004 Operational 
			 Cambridge Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Trust 80 2004 Under construction 
			 Leeds Central Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust 277 2004 Under construction 
			 Manchester Central Central Manchester and Manchester Childrens Hospitals NHS Trust 535 2004 Under construction 
			 Ashfield Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Trust 326 2005 Under construction 
			 Newcastle Upon Tyne East and Wallsend and Newcastle Upon Tyne Central Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Trust 299 2005 Under construction 
			 Portsmouth North Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust 236 2005 Under construction 
			 Bethnal Green and Bow St. Barts and the London NHS Trust 1000 2006 Under construction 
			 Birmingham, Edgbaston University Hospital Birmingham NHS Trust 627 2006 Under construction 
			 Bristol West United Bristol Healthcare NHS Trust/North Bristol NHS Trust 64 2006 Under construction 
			 Holborn and St. Pancras Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust 75 2006 Under construction 
			 Kingston Upon Hull West and Hessle Hull and East Yorkshire NHS Trust 67 2006 Under construction 
			 St. Helens, North and St. Helens, South St. Helens Hospitals NHS Trust 338 2006 Under construction 
		
	
	
		
			  Schemes which have been given approval to proceed to the next stage following the private finance review 
			  Constituency( 1)  Hospital scheme  Capital value at 2006-07 prices  (£ million)  Year approved  Status 
			 Denton and Reddish Tameside and Glossop Acute Services NHS Trust 109 2006 Appointed preferred bidder 
			 Leicester, East University Hospital Leicester NHS Trust 711 2006 Appointed preferred bidder 
			 Newcastle-Under-Lyme University Hospital of North Staffordshire NHS Trust 272 2006 Appointed preferred bidder 
			 Salford Salford Royal Hospitals NHS Trust 190 2006 Appointed preferred bidder 
			 Walsall, South Walsall Hospitals NHS Trust 141 2006 Appointed preferred bidder 
			 Edmonton North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust 111 2007 Appointed preferred bidder 
			 Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford Mid Yorkshire NHS Hospitals NHS Trust 343 2007 Appointed preferred bidder 
			 Peterborough Peterborough Hospitals NHS Trust 282 2007 Appointed preferred bidder 
			 West Chelmsford Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust 143 2007 Appointed preferred bidder 
			 Torbay South Devon Healthcare NHS Trust 163 2006 Shortlisted bidders 
			 Colne Valley Tees and North East Yorkshire NHS Trust 78 2007 Shortlisted bidders 
			 Tunbridge Wells Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust 225 2007 Shortlisted bidders 
			 Bristol, North West Bristol North and South Gloucester Primary Care Trusts 310 2007 Pre-procurement 
			 (1 )These are the constituencies principally affected by the scheme i.e. those containing a significant element of new build or refurbishment.

Hospitals: Lancashire

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many deferred operations there were at hospitals in Lancashire in each of the last five years.

Andy Burnham: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Cancelled operations for non-clinical reasons, national health service organisations in Lancashire, 2002-03 to 2006-07 
			  Organisation  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07( 1) 
			 Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre Hospitals NHS Trust 671 763 576 428 199 
			 East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust 682 657 589 469 244 
			 Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 389 440 406 460 341 
			 Morecambe Bay Hospitals NHS Trust 400 388 309 462 258 
			 Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust 62 61 73 89 107 
			 (1) Data for 2006-07 are for the first three quarters only  Source: Department of Health dataset QMCO

Hospitals: Parking

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was raised from parking fees by each health authority in Lancashire in each of the last five years.

Andy Burnham: The information requested is in the table.
	The figures provided represent the gross income received from parking fees paid by staff and visitors at national health service organisations in Lancashire where information is available.
	
		
			  £ 
			  NHS organisation  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06 
			 Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Healthcare NHS Trust (merged to form East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust in 2003-04) 297,790 276,072 — — — 
			 Burnley Healthcare NHS Trust (merged to form East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust in 2003-04) 218,800 221,500 — — — 
			 East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust (established 2003-04) — — 499,572 211,000 224,289 
			 Blackpool Victoria Hospital NHS Trust (renamed Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre Hospitals NHS Trust in 2002-03) 418,000 — — — — 
			 Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre Hospitals NHS Trust (established 2002-03) — 418,000 518,000 540,000 566,925 
			 Preston Acute Hospitals NHS Trust (merged to form Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust in 2002-03) 395,479 — — — — 
			 Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (established 2002-03) — 627,549 924,927 969,886 1,288,080 
			 Morecambe Bay Hospitals NHS Trust 205,604 233,300 394,901 426,739 495,419 
			 West Lancashire Primary Care Trust 5,952 9,000 — 17,394 19,053 
		
	
	The information is as provided by NHS organisations without amendment. Since 2004-05, it has been provided on a voluntary basis and may therefore be incomplete.

Hospitals: Waiting Lists

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the waiting times milestones agreed with strategic health authorities referred to in the answer of 9 March 2006,  Official Report, column 1777W, on waiting lists/times, remain in place; what percentage of those waiting for  (a) out-patient appointments waiting longer than 11 weeks,  (b) diagnostic tests waited longer than 13 weeks and  (c) in-patient appointments waited longer than 20 weeks in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Andy Burnham: The data requested are shown in the table. The majority of those patients that are waiting over 13 weeks for a diagnostic test are waiting for audiology assessments, on which we published a framework for action on 6 March.
	By December 2008, patients can expect a maximum wait of 18 weeks from general practitioner referral to the start of consultant-led treatment, with most patients treated much more quickly. The referral-to-treatment (RTT) milestones are: by March 2008, 85 per cent. within 18 weeks for admitted patients (whose treatment requires a stay in hospital) and 90 per cent. for non-admitted patients {whose treatment is completed without a hospital stay).
	The framework of milestones for individual stages of treatment, agreed with strategic health authorities, remains in place and is central to the current planning round for 2007-08. Performance against the RTT milestones will take precedence over the individual stages of treatment.
	
		
			  Month end  Stage of treatment  Relevant milestone (weeks)  Total number waiting  Number waiting over milestone  Percentage waiting over milestone 
			 December 2006 Diagnostic test 13 814,360 191,385 23.5 
			 January 2007 Out-patient appointment 11 957,929 21,840 2.3 
			 January 2007 In-patient admission 20 754,992 44,622 5.9 
			  Source: Department of Health QF01, QM08 and DM01

Injuries: Children

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what steps she plans to take in response to the Audit Commission report on preventing unintentional injury to children; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what assessment her Department has made of the potential contribution of a national roll-out of the injury minimisation programme pioneered at the John Radcliffe hospital in Oxford to the reduction of unintentional injury to children.

Caroline Flint: Preventing unintentional injury to children is a cross-Government and cross-disciplinary matter. The Department will consider the recommendations of the Audit Commission's report in partnership with other Government Departments. Specific injury minimisation programmes should be considered by local authorities and health care organisations when commissioning services.

London PCTs: Outstanding Loans

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many London primary care trusts (PCTs) have outstanding loans from her Department; and how much each such PCT has repaid to her Department in  (a) principal and  (b) interest payments in each year since 1997.

Ivan Lewis: Primary care trusts (PCTs) do not have the legal powers to borrow from the Department or elsewhere.

Lung Cancer

Peter Soulsby: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cancer centres in England participated in the recent national lung cancer audit; and what percentage of centres this represents.

Rosie Winterton: 154 out of 200 eligible hospitals recently participated in the national lung cancer audit. It covered 77 per cent. of hospitals providing lung cancer services in England.

Lung Cancer

Peter Soulsby: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consideration she has given to  (a) mandating and  (b) building into the commissioning process a requirement on NHS trusts to submit data to the national lung cancer audit.

Rosie Winterton: The National Clinical Audit Support Programme (NCASP) is commissioned by the Healthcare Commission to manage national clinical audits including the national lung cancer audit (LUCADA). The Healthcare Commission is not currently planning to make participation in audits mandatory. However, the Healthcare Commission conducts an annual health check of national health service organisations and since 2005-06 has been using participation in national clinical audits as part of the health check for NHS trusts. The Healthcare Commission is currently considering whether to include measurement not only of participation in audits, but also of data completeness and quality in its annual health check.
	The Department is currently developing a cancer reform strategy. In developing the strategy, the Department is specifically looking at how to strengthen commissioning of cancer services and how to improve the information available on clinical outcomes. Discussions are under way on improving clinical outcomes data including the use of comparative information such as that provided through the NCASP audits. We expect to publish the cancer reform strategy by the end of the year.

Maternity Services

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether her Department has taken steps to support the midwifery model being developed by the Independent Midwives Association.

Ivan Lewis: It is for primary care trusts (PCTs) in partnership with strategic health authorities and other local stakeholders to determine which models best suit the local needs of women and the midwifery work force. This process provides the means for addressing local needs within the health community including the provision of maternity services.
	Ministers and officials have met with the Independent Midwives Association (IMA) over the past three years to discuss their proposal of a national health service community midwifery model. Following on from these discussions, the IMA has identified a group of midwives and PCTs who are willing to test the model and help to create an outline contract. That process is continuing.

Medical Records

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how patients will opt out of having  (a) their detailed patient record and  (b) their summary patient record uploaded to the spine.

Caroline Flint: The spine is the colloquial name given to the national database of key information about patients' health and care which forms the core of the NHS care records service, and which, from later this year, will begin to hold summary care records. Detailed patient records are created, and can be held electronically, in a variety of national health service organisations, depending on where patients have received treatment. They are accessed locally, and will not, unlike summary records, be uploaded on to the spine.
	It will be open to individuals to choose not to have a summary care record through discussion with their general practitioner (GP). General practices will be responsible for entering care records on the system, and by the time the summary care record is introduced in local areas general practitioners will have been provided with guidance on what they need to do to respond to requests. GPs will be advised to record and act on patient preferences.
	We believe that holding summary care records on the spine will deliver very significant benefits for safety and the efficient management of NHS services, improving healthcare outcomes for millions whilst preventing thousands of unnecessary deaths. Inevitably patients whose record was not held on the spine, and who might need to be treated in the absence of knowledge of the information they contain, would not receive the same quality of care as others.

Midwives: Manpower

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the numbers of midwives needed by the NHS  (a) now and  (b) over the next five years.

Ivan Lewis: It is for local planners with support from the workforce review team to determine their future requirement for midwives to meet local service needs.
	The NHS operating framework for 2007-08, requires all national health service organisations to undertake a comprehensive review of their maternity services, including the workforce capacity, as preparation for the delivery of maternity commitments outlined in 'Our Health, Our Care, Our Say' by 2009.

Ministerial Visits

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which countries she visited on official business in 2006.

Ivan Lewis: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State visited the United States of America on official business on 1-3 November 2006. My right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Health Services covers international and European business within her portfolio, and has undertaken several official visits throughout 2006.

Motor Neurone Disease

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  whether she has consulted the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence on the evaluation of non-invasive ventilation treatment for motor neurone disease;
	(2)  if she will make a statement on the timetable for the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence's investigation into non-invasive ventilation; and when she expects to publish the findings.

Caroline Flint: holding answer 26 February 2007
	The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) considered non-invasive ventilation as part of its interventional procedures programme but concluded that this procedure fell outside the institute's remit on interventional procedures. Decisions on the use of non-invasive ventilation in motor neurone disease are most appropriately taken by individual patients and their clinicians.

National Media Evaluations

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will place in the Library copies of her Department's national media coverage evaluations in each month since January 2006.

Ivan Lewis: Since August 2005, the Department has published its media evaluation reports as part of the Department's wider commitment to freedom of information on its website at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/PublicationsAndStatistics/FreedomOf Information/ClassesOfInformation/Communications Research/fs/en
	These reports are released every six months. Publication of the next set of national media evaluation reports covering January to June 2006 is scheduled for May and when this happens we will arrange for hard copies to be placed in the Library.

NHS Direct

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average cost was per call for dealing with calls to NHS Direct in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Andy Burnham: The information requested is not held centrally.

NHS Finance

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 16 January 2007,  Official Report, columns 1086-7W, on NHS Finance, whether the full budget for commissioning specialised services transferred from her Department to the NHS will be ring-fenced.

Andy Burnham: The budget for nationally commissioned healthcare services transferring from the Department to the national health service in 2007-08 will not be ring-fenced. NHS London will host the services on the principle that it will bear no financial risk or benefit. The budget will be transferred from the Department to primary care trusts (PCTs) pro rata to weighted capitation targets and then transferred immediately on the same basis to NHS London. Any variation from budget will be managed through in-year transfers between NHS London and PCTs.

NHS Foundation Trusts

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 20 February 2007,  Official Report, columns 672-73W, on NHS foundation trusts, what proportion of residents in foundation trust catchment areas are members of foundation trusts.

Andy Burnham: Information relating to the proportion of residents who are members of foundation trusts is not held by Monitor (the statutory name of which is the independent regulator of NHS foundation trusts) or the Department.
	I am advised by the chairman of Monitor that as part of their annual plan submissions to Monitor, national health service foundation trusts are required to report on their plans for securing representative membership. The plans for the 2006-07 financial year are available on Monitor's website at www.monitor-nhsft.gov.uk
	As part of their 2007-08 annual plan submissions to Monitor, NHS foundation trusts will be required to include a more in-depth report on their membership, including an analysis of current membership of the public constituency and a comparison with eligible membership by age, ethnicity and socio-economic groupings. The 2007-08 annual plans are due to be considered by Monitor's board in July 2007, following which they will be published on Monitor's website.

NHS Foundation Trusts

Denis MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which NHS hospital trusts are applying for foundation trust status.

Andy Burnham: The Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003 provides that an national health service trust may make an application to Monitor (the statutory name of which is the independent regulator of NHS foundation trusts) for consideration for authorisation as an NHS foundation trust (NHSFT), if the application is supported by the Secretary of State.
	I am advised by the chairman of Monitor that it is currently considering 27 applications from NHS trusts for NHSFT status. Of the 27, nine applications have been deferred from earlier waves, either at the request of the trusts themselves, or by Monitor's board. Applications cannot normally be deferred for a period of more than one year. The remaining 18 trusts received Secretary of State support in December 2006 to go forward to Monitor for potential authorisation from spring 2007 onwards.
	A further 12 trusts are preparing to submit an application for NHSFT status to Monitor in 2007. Subject to receiving Secretary of State's support, these trusts will apply to Monitor to be considered for authorisation from summer 2007. Further waves are set to follow.
	A list is provided in the following table:
	
		
			  Application status  Trust 
			 Trusts deferred from earlier waves (by Monitor or self deferring) 1 Gloucestershire Partnership NHS Trust 
			  2 Heatherwood and Wexham Park Hospitals NHS Trust 
			  3 Milton Keynes General Hospital NHS Trust 
			  4 North Essex Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust 
			  5 North Lincolnshire and Goole Hospitals NHS Trust 
			  6 North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust 
			  7 St Helen's and Knowsley Hospitals NHS Trust 
			  8 Tameside and Glossop Acute Services NHS Trust 
			  9 York Hospitals NHS Trust 
			
			 Trusts approved by Secretary of State for potential authorisation by Monitor 1 Berkshire Healthcare NHS Trust 
			  2 Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Trust 
			  3 Central and North West London Mental Health NHS Trust 
			  4 Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Trust 
			  5 Christie Hospital NHS Trust 
			  6 Cumbria Partnership NHS Trust 
			  7 Doncaster and South Humber Healthcare NHS Trust 
			  8 Dorset Health Care NHS Trust 
			  9 Dudley Group of Hospitals NHS Trust 
			  10 Hertfordshire Partnership NHS Trust 
			  11 Leeds Mental Health Teaching NHS Trust 
			  12 Norfolk and Waveney Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust 
			  13 Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust 
			  14 Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust 
			  15 Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Trust 
			  16 Royal Liverpool Children's NHS Trust 
			  17 West Dorset General Hospitals NHS Trust 
			  18 Wirral Hospital NHS Trust 
			
			 Trusts preparing to submit an application to Secretary of State 1 Birmingham Women's Health Care NHS Trust 
			  2 Blackpool, Flyde and Wyre Hospitals NHS Trust 
			  3 Bolton Hospitals NHS Trust 
			  4 Derbyshire MH NHS Trust 
			  5 East London and The City Mental Health NHS Trust 
			  6 Lancashire Care NHS Trust 
			  7 Lincolnshire Partnerships NHS Trust 
			  8 Medway NHS Trust 
			  9 Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Trust 
			  10 Poole Hospital NHS Trust 
			  11 Taunton and Somerset NHS Trust 
			  12 The Cardiothoracic Centre - Liverpool NHS Trust

NHS: ICT

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations her Department has received on the choose and book system; and if she will make a statement.

Andy Burnham: No recent formal representations on the choose and book system have been received.
	With the benefit of choose and book, general practitioners and other care staff are able to book initial hospital appointments at a time, date and place which is convenient for their patients. By giving patients choice and placing them in control of their booking, choose and book has been shown to halve the number of did not attends, saving millions of pounds in nursing and clinical time.
	97 per cent. of general practices are now able to make electronic bookings. Most bookings are made in under a minute. Currently, over 16,000 bookings are being made every day, and in excess of 2.5 million bookings have been made in total to date.

NHS: ICT

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how much has been spent on the choose and book IT system in Bedfordshire; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  how much IT consultants and contractors have received for work undertaken to implement the choose and book IT system in Bedfordshire; and if she will make a statement.

Andy Burnham: The choose and book computer system is a core component of the national programme for information technology being delivered by the Department's NHS Connecting for Health agency. Expenditure on system development, along with ongoing service payments and volume charges, is incurred centrally under a national contract.
	Information is not held centrally on payments made by national health service organisations locally to information technology consultants and contractors.

NHS: Religion

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made on the guidance being developed by NHS Employers on dress codes and religion or belief.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 5 March 2007
	After discussion with the Department and national health service trusts, NHS Employers has decided that given that each trust comprises a work force unique to it, reflecting its local communities, national guidance is inappropriate and the way forward is to share best practice where like trusts can learn from each other.
	NHS Trusts have indicated to NHS Employers that they would like access to evidence and best practice from other parts of the NHS so that they can learn from others when developing their own local dress code policies. NHS Employers is currently pulling together a number of good practice examples, which it will make available on its website.

Organs: Donors

Anthony D Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have registered to donate their organs in each year since figures were first available.

Rosie Winterton: The number of individuals on the NHS Organ Donor Register is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Number on the NHS Organ Donor Register each year 
			  Million 
			   Added in year  Total at end 
			 1994 0.14 0.14 
			 1995 2.21 2.35 
			 1996 1.39 3.74 
			 1997 0.92 4.66 
			 1998 0.87 5.53 
			 1999 1.51 7.04 
			 2000 1.23 8.27 
			 2001 0.74 9.01 
			 2002 1.08 10.09 
			 2003 0.87 10.96 
			 2004 0.96 11.92 
			 2005 1.01 12.93 
			 2006 1.04 13.97

Organs: Donors

Anthony D Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting time was for people on the organ transplant list to receive a donation in each year since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: Median time waited (in days) on the active list to transplant in the United Kingdom, by year of transplant and transplant type, is shown in the following table:
	
		
			   Kidney( 1)  Heart( 2)  Lung(s)  Liver( 2) 
			 1997 278 77 152 46 
			 1998 339 78 242 42 
			 1999 370 104 146 64 
			 2000 390 128 165 36 
			 2001 426 43 203 47 
			 2002 425 40 311 66 
			 2003 433 51 226 52 
			 2004 464 33 145 69 
			 2005 468 41 186 87 
			 2006 809 66 200 108 
			 (1) Living donor transplant cases excluded (2 )Urgent cases excluded

Organs: Donors

Anthony D Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people are waiting for organ transplants; and how many people are registered to donate organs.

Rosie Winterton: The number listed actively for an organ transplant in the United Kingdom as at 4 March 2007 is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Organ  Active list 
			 Kidney 6,271 
			 Pancreas 64 
			 Kidney/pancreas 155 
			 Heart 95 
			 Lung(s) 264 
			 Heart/lungs 29 
			 Liver 316 
			 Total 7,194 
		
	
	At 4 March 2007 there were 14.13 million people registered on the NHS Organ Donor Register.

Osteoporosis

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what provision has been made for the allocation of Government funding towards osteoporosis treatment to remain ring-fenced;
	(2)  how much her Department allocated for expenditure on the treatment of osteoporosis in 2005-06; and how much was spent.

Ivan Lewis: The Department does not hold data which link treatment to disease. Because of the number of different diagnostic and treatment episodes a patient with osteoporosis and any concurrent condition may undergo, the Department cannot record spending on an individual illness or condition.
	The capital provision of £17 million to improve national health service capacity in dual X-ray absorptiometer (DXA) scanning provision in the diagnosis of osteoporosis has been included in strategic health authorities' (SHA) strategic capital allocation and is not ring-fenced. Whilst the Department does not monitor how SHA strategic capital is spent, it has been clear in its expectations that this funding is spent exclusively on DXA provision. In May 2006, the national director for older people, Professor Ian Philp, wrote to SHAs to highlight the importance of DXA scanning in delivering the relevant elements of the national service framework for older people.

Palliative Care: Finance

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress she has made towards meeting the commitment contained within the Labour party 2005 election manifesto to double spending on palliative care services.

Rosie Winterton: Ministers have charged Professor Mike Richards, the national cancer director, with support from all other national clinical directors, to develop an end of life care strategy for adults. The strategy will deliver increased choice to all adult patients regardless of their condition about where they live and die, and, within available resources, provide them with support to make this possible. The strategy will help deliver the Government's manifesto commitment and the commitments in the White Paper "Our health, our care, our say".

Pregnant Women: Lancashire

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many pregnant women in Lancashire were diagnosed with a mental illness  (a) during pregnancy and  (b) in the year after their pregnancy in each of the last 10 years.

Rosie Winterton: The information requested is not collected centrally. The Department does not collect information about diagnoses in primary care, so information about the number of people with a mental illness, and who are treated in primary care, is not available at primary care trust, county or national levels.
	However, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence issued clinical guidance note CG45 on 28 February 2007 about treating antenatal and postnatal mental health and is available on its website at www.nice.org.uk. This estimates that one in seven women experience a mental health problem in the antenatal (during pregnancy) and postnatal (first year after giving birth) periods.

Primary Care Trusts

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many primary care trusts there were as at 1 January 2007.

Andy Burnham: On 1 January 2007 there were 152 primary care trusts.

Ritalin

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what meetings she has had with Novartis to discuss the use of the drug Ritalin.

Ivan Lewis: My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State has not met with representatives of Novartis to discuss the use of the drug Ritalin.

Sexually Transmitted Diseases: Vaccination

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will ensure that the recommendations of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation on a human papilloma virus national immunisation programme are implemented within the school year 2007-08.

Caroline Flint: The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) human papilloma virus (HPV) subgroup met on 28 February to review the available information on the protective effect of the vaccine against cervical cancer, and the safety of HPV vaccines. Further work is ongoing to evaluate whether the vaccine is considered to be a cost-effective prevention of cervical cancer; and the impact that HPV vaccine may have on genital warts.
	The subgroup's advice will be reported to the main JCVI committee for further discussion. No decisions will be taken on introducing these vaccines into the immunisation programme until the main JCVI present their advice to Ministers for their consideration.

Sexually Transmitted Diseases: Vaccination

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the potential impact on NHS spending of a national human papilloma virus types 6, 11, 16 and 18 immunisation programme for  (a) 12-year-old girls,  (b) 12 to 16-year-old girls and  (c) 12 to 16-year-old girls and boys.

Caroline Flint: This work is currently being undertaken for the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation's consideration.

Smoking: Television

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what recent assessment her Department has made of the impact of people smoking on television and in films on young people's decision on whether or not to start smoking; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what steps her Department is taking to ensure that smoking is not encouraged by its depiction in television programmes and films; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: The Department has not made a recent assessment of the impact of people smoking on television and in films on young people's decision on whether or not to start smoking.
	The Government have taken steps to reduce the impact of smoking on young people. The glamorising of tobacco products through advertising, promotion and sponsorship as well as through their depiction in the media has been shown to be linked to increased smoking rates. The Tobacco Advertising and Promotion Act 2002 provides a comprehensive ban on advertising promotion and sponsorship of tobacco products.
	The Office of Communications code covers the portrayal of smoking in television programmes. This code specifically requires that the portrayal of smoking should not be featured in children's programmes, and included only when there is a strong editorial case for inclusion. In other programmes likely to be widely seen by young people, smoking should be included only where context or dramatic veracity requires it. In such programmes, smoking should not be prominently featured as a normal and attractive activity.
	In films, the independent British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) undertook a public consultation exercise to update its guidelines on granting classifications for films which can be seen by children. The public expressed some concern at the depiction of smoking in films. The BBFC issued updated guidelines in 2005, which included the following:
	No work taken as a whole may promote or encourage the use of illegal drugs. Any detailed portrayal of drug use likely to promote or glamorise the activity may be cut. Works which promote or glamorise smoking, alcohol abuse or substance misuse may also be a concern, particularly at the junior categories.
	The BBFC apply these guidelines to cinema films, as well as videos and computer games.

Waiting Lists: East Sussex

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting times in  (a) Eastbourne and  (b) East Sussex for treatment in (i) ear, nose and throat, (ii) general surgery, (iii) gynaecology, (iv) orthopaedics, (v) rheumatology, (vi) urology and (vii) pain relief specialities were in the last period for which figures are available.

Andy Burnham: The information requested is only available at primary care trust (PCT) level. The following tables detail the latest figures for average waiting times for the specialities requested for PCTs in East Sussex, based on the wait between consultant decision to admit and in-patient admission.
	
		
			  Commissioner based in-patient median waiting times for East Sussex Downs and Weald PCT and Hastings and Rother PCT, end of December 2006 
			   East Sussex Downs and Weald PCT  Hastings and Rother PCT 
			  Specialty  Total number waiting  Median waiting time (weeks)  Total number waiting  Median waiting time (weeks) 
			 General surgery 667 8.2 236 7.3 
			 Urology 296 8.1 61 n/a 
			 Ear, nose and throat 575 10.0 173 9.5 
			 Anaesthetics 50 n/a 12 n/a 
			 Rheumatology 2 n/a 0 n/a 
			 Gynaecology 311 8.5 164 11.6 
		
	
	
		
			  Commissioner based in-patient median waiting times for East Sussex Downs and Weald PCT and Hastings and Rother PCT, end of January 2007 
			  Specialty—trauma and orthopaedics  Total number waiting  Median waiting time (weeks) 
			 East Sussex Downs and Weald PCT 1,540 10.7 
			 Hastings and Rother PCT 1,000 12.3 
			  Notes: 1. East Sussex, Downs and Weald PCT is a merger between Eastbourne Downs PCT and Sussex Downs and Weald PCT (due to the recent PCT restructuring that took place in October 2006). In addition, Hastings and Rother PCT is a merger between Bexhill and Rother PCT and Hastings and St. Leonards PCT. 2. Medians are not provided for specialties with a total waiting list of less than 100 because this population is too small for a statistically meaningful median to be calculated. 3. Pain management data are collected as part of the anaesthetic specialty, and Orthopaedics is part of trauma and orthopaedics. It is not possible to break these down into constituent parts. 4. Data by specialty are collected on a quarterly basis apart from trauma and orthopaedics, which are collected monthly.  Source: Department, QF01 and Monthly Monitoring

Welfare Foods

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will take steps to ensure that those administering the welfare food scheme healthy start take the necessary steps to confirm the registration of the Wick Family Centre, formerly the Amherst Playgroup, account number 1845674.

Caroline Flint: Both the Amhurst Family Centre and Wick Family Centre are registered for the welfare food scheme. Amhurst Family Centre was registered in 2004 as supplier number 1845674. Wick Family Centre was registered in April 2006 as supplier number 1972054.
	Responsibility for registering and paying day care providers for provision of free milk through the welfare food scheme moved to a new contractor on 1 December 2006. Any day care provider wishing to discuss issues relating to their registration can contact the new Welfare Food Reimbursement Unit helpline on 08707 20 30 63.